Zlatan Ibrahimovic: "Egoistical? I'm too supportive!"
Being known for his somehow egoistic personality throughout his career, the 41-year-old striker assures fans that his the exact opposite, as he always tries to help his teammates on and off the pitch.
Making the record for the oldest player to provide an assist in
Milanhistory, the Sweden international discussed his personality and recovery from knee surgery with
Milan TV.
said:
“It’s a record for little old men, but I feel young! The important thing for me is to win the game, I do everything to help the team. If I do that as the oldest, that’s fine too.”
“I am someone who wants to help in every way, I don’t have the big ego of someone who wants to do everything himself. I am here at Milan to give everything, to help my teammates improve, to have success and understand what we’re doing.
“It is a sacrifice, hard work and we aren’t doing this just to pass the time. When you provide an assist, it’s just as important as scoring a goal. I do everything I can to help.”
“I always ask them, if you are clear on goal with a teammate, do you score or provide an assist? If they say goal, I reply you’ll have trouble with me, because the right mentality is to believe an assist is just as important as a goal.
“There are some players who go more for the goal, but in my view that’s not as enjoyable, you are not a complete player that way. You are complete if you raise your teammates up to your level.”
Going on to talk about his goal against
Lazio, the Sweden international added:
“I was tying my laces and I stopped halfway because I saw a goal-scoring situation was developing. As a striker, I ran straight into the space towards the goal.
“I also know full well what Ante is capable of and he provided me with the perfect pass. It was a simple goal, but only because I started the run early and saw the chance developing, so I was in the right place for a simple finish.
“You need a feeling for the goal and that cannot be taught, you either have it or you don’t. This is why a team needs 11 players with many different elements and characteristics that slot together.”
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