Ibrahimovic on Milan future: I can't say anything about next season

By Sports Desk March 18, 2021

Zlatan Ibrahimovic declined to discuss his Milan future following the club's Europa League exit to Manchester United on Thursday.

Ibrahimovic came off the bench in the 65th minute but could not inspire Milan to victory – the Rossoneri losing 1-0 on the night and 2-1 on aggregate against United.

The 39-year-old has been a key figure for Milan this term, netting 16 goals, including 14 in the Serie A to help the Italian giants sit second in the standings and nine points adrift of city rivals Inter.

Ibrahimovic, who turns 40 in October, is out of contract at the end of the season and has previously declined to offer any insight into his plans beyond the 2020-21 campaign.

"If we get into the Champions League, that is great too, but the objective is to win a trophy," Ibrahimovic told Sky Sport Italia post-game.

"I can't say anything about next season, all I know is that I'm here at the moment."

Ibrahimovic, who has returned to the Sweden squad ahead of the rescheduled 2020 having retired in 2016, felt Milan did not deserve to be knocked out by former club United.

"There is great disappointment, because we did very well over the two legs, we made one mistake and conceded a goal," said Ibrahimovic, who spent two years at Old Trafford before joining LA Galaxy in 2018.

"We should've made more of our chances. We didn't deserve to go out today, but this is football. You learn from the negative moments and use them to grow. We go forward and the season is not over.

"We have to come back stronger in Serie A, learn from our errors and keep improving. I want to play to win something, we are second and must continue like this to try and win the Scudetto."

Milan return to Serie A action on Sunday, travelling to Fiorentina.

Related items

  • Football rumours: Arsenal draw up 10-man shortlist in quest for striker Football rumours: Arsenal draw up 10-man shortlist in quest for striker
    What the papers say

    Arsenal’s quest to find a new striker has been whittled down to a 10-man shortlist, according to the Daily Mirror. Among those being watched by the Gunners are RB Leipzig’s Slovenian Benjamin Sesko, 20, Sporting’s Viktor Gyokeres, 25, and his fellow Sweden international Alexander Isak, 24, at Newcastle.

    Another Arsenal target may be out of reach, reports the Daily Express. They have been tracking Dutch winger Xavi Simons, 20, but his parent club Paris St-Germain are keen to give him game time after a loan spell at RB Leipzig.

    Liverpool forward Luis Diaz, 27, is still hopeful of a move to Spain. The Daily Mail reports on the Colombia international’s father saying he remains keen on a move to one of La Liga’s top clubs.

    Manchester United have strengthening their defence as their main summer priority, according to The Daily Telegraph. Everton’s Jarrad Branthwaite, 21, is high on their list of targets.

    Social media round-upPlayers to watch

    Bruno Guimaraes: Spanish outlet Fichajes says Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola is “obsessed” by the Newcastle midfielder, 26, who would cost around £85million.

    Lucas Paqueta: West Ham expect Manchester City to make another bid for the Brazil midfielder, 26, according to Football Insider.

  • Manchester United and Liverpool come together to tackle tragedy chanting Manchester United and Liverpool come together to tackle tragedy chanting

    Manchester United and Liverpool have joined forces to launch an initiative aimed at eradicating tragedy chanting.

    The exhilarating FA Cup quarter-final between the two most successful clubs in England earlier this month – won 4-3 by United with a late goal in extra time – was marred by incidences of tragedy-related chanting by supporters.

    With the two rivals set to meet again in the Premier League at Old Trafford on April 7, the charitable foundations of both clubs have come together to deliver an education programme focused on the impact such conduct can have.

    It is aimed at children in the hope that, by learning about the Munich and Hillsborough disasters at a young age, such behaviour will not be absorbed by the next generation and the problem will fade out.

    Former Liverpool captain Phil Thompson and ex-United defender Wes Brown were both involved as a session for schoolchildren from both Manchester and Liverpool was held at the Lord Derby Academy in Huyton, Merseyside, on Wednesday.

    Brown told the PA news agency: “It’s about the two biggest clubs in England and in world football coming together to a school, to talk about the tragedies that happened at each club and why we don’t need tragedy chanting.

    “It’s about getting the kids to understand it. It doesn’t make them look cool, it doesn’t make them top boy or top girl.

    “A lot of the times you copy off adults but, in this situation, nothing good comes from it. No-one wants it in football, the two clubs don’t want it, the players don’t want it.

    “There are people from both clubs still in pain from the incidents that happened. It’s not something that in any way you can be happy about.”

    Thompson is pleased that both clubs, fierce rivals on the field, are working together on this issue.

    He said: “This has been going on now for years and it needs to be identified.

    “It’s not supporting your football club, tragedy chanting. What good is it? I’d rather have our fans singing Liverpool songs to boost us, to boost our morale, rather than have a go at, say, Manchester United. I’m quite sure United players are exactly the same.

    “Why are you dragging us to the depths to be tragedy chanting when we need that support?

    “We’ve just had one of the great FA Cup ties. Yes, we came out the wrong end but that anger and that frustration shouldn’t spill over into this. It was a wonderful game of football and we should have rejoiced in it.

    “I think we all need to have a good look at ourselves and, when we’re at these games, think that that’s wrong – because it is wrong, massively wrong – and don’t want to have any involvement.”

    The two foundations are developing the programme in partnership with the Premier League and plan to make it an annual part of their engagement with tens of thousands of young people across the Greater Manchester and Merseyside regions.

    John Shiels, CEO of Manchester United Foundation, said: “It is unacceptable to use the loss of life, in relation to any tragedy, to score points, and it is time for it to stop.

    “We are proud to come together with LFC Foundation as we believe education will break the generational cycle on this issue and help thousands of young people across this region understand the impact tragedy-related abuse has.”

  • Gateshead hammer Hartlepool to move fourth in National League Gateshead hammer Hartlepool to move fourth in National League

    Gateshead moved up to fourth in the Vanarama National League with a thumping 7-1 win against Hartlepool.

    The visitors took a deserved lead in the eighth minute when Joe Grey almost allowed the chance to go begging before producing a neat finish.

    Callum Whelan had a goal ruled out for Gateshead before they equalised from the penalty spot in the 28th minute. Luke Hannant slotted home after Dajaune Brown had been tripped in the area by Manny Onariase.

    The home side went ahead early in the second half when Kieron Evans made the most of a poor attempted clearance and fired past Pete Jameson.

    Brown headed home unmarked for 3-1 and it was four when Regan Booty drove through a crowded penalty area shortly afterwards.

    Brown scored his second with a dinked finish and Whelan netted almost a carbon copy sixth with 15 minutes remaining.

    Tom Allan sealed a thoroughly miserable night for the visitors with a late seventh.

© 2023 SportsMaxTV All Rights Reserved.