Today, Kyle Walker was unveiled at Casa Milan as an AC Milan player, and Zlatan Ibrahimovic was present to speak about the deal and the current situation.
With Milan in a difficult position in Serie A, there has been a lot of criticism directed towards Ibrahimovic for his leadership of the Rossoneri so far. However, the Swede has often stated that he is still learning on the job, so perhaps, there can be hope for things to get better.
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For the Diavolo, ambition is one of the main factors required for success in such a role, and so far, Ibrahimovic has attempted to show the club’s desire to return to the top of Serie A with some intriguing mercato targets.
So far, only one has walked through the door at Milanello – Walker – but he hopes to add more before the shutting of the window.
As is common with unveiling press conferences, Zlatan Ibrahimovic sat with the new signing and spoke about the Englishman’s arrival and other topics. Milan News have relayed his comments.
Ibrahimovic takes the floor…
“Hello everyone. We are here to introduce the new signing, Kyle Walker. There is no need to introduce his characteristics, he has made history for City. He is a great signing, he is a leader on and off the pitch.
“Even though we have many right-backs, we couldn’t say no to Walker, it was an opportunity that we couldn’t miss. He will bring many things on and off the pitch. We are confident that he will be important for this team. Welcome Kyle!”
How did you experience what happened yesterday after Parma?
“It’s a situation with a lot of adrenaline between two people who want to win. Something like this has happened to me often. It’s all resolved, before you even enter the locker room. Things like this have happened to me everywhere, everyone wants to win.
“As Capello taught me, these are things that can be good for the team. The coach works with great emotion, as does Calabria. Some things are better if they happen than not, they show that they care.
“These are things that happen, from the outside, they can be bad, but the important thing is to have resolved everything immediately after the match.”
Milan’s market ends with Walker? Also aiming for a striker and a midfielder?
“We have our goals, but the January transfer window is not easy. We are working. With Walker an opportunity has arisen, it was not an objective, but it is better to have someone like him than not to have him.
“We are working, we hope to achieve our goals. We know what we want, we and the coach, we are working.”
What are Walker’s characteristics?
“He has a strong character that the team needs, he is an alpha in the dressing room. He can help in all ways. In our opinion he can also play as a central defender, he did it at City.”
Did you expect these problems after the first few months?
“For me, it’s all new, I’m doing a different job, on the pitch everything was different. We’re not in the situation we wanted to be in, we always want to win. The Super Cup was our goal, we have the Coppa Italia, if we win on Wednesday we’ll be among the top 8 in the Champions League.
“In the league, we need to have more continuity, we need to recover points.”
You have often said that this team needs balance. Do you also need more serenity?
“Serenity comes with results and victories. You also need to find continuity, it’s easier to play, and it gives you confidence and also brings you luck. At Milan there’s the pressure to always get results, we always want to win, and we’re looking for continuity.
“Yesterday it wasn’t quality that won, but attitude, just like in the Super Cup. With this spirit, what happened with Calabria and the coach can happen. From the outside, it may seem more than it is, but for us, it’s a normal thing.
“In terms of image, I understand that it’s not the best. When we find continuity we will also have greater serenity.”
Are Milan lacking leaders? You and Kjaer arrived in 2020 and gave a boost…
“There are two types of leaders, one who does it on the field and one who does it off the field. When I came back in 2020 I was doing both. This team for me has leaders. Walker has great experience, he has won a lot.”
Do you like Gimenez? Does the team need reinforcements in the middle of the field?
“Gimenez has great talent and potential. Everyone knows he’s strong. If we need a midfielder? We have great midfielders, we’re strong. Then we’ll see if something is created and what we can do.”
Are there any updates on Jovic-Monza?
“There’s nothing new. He’s doing well, the coach is satisfied. We also need to understand what’s best for the player.”
Any news on the renewals of Theo, Maignan and Reijnders?
“We are talking to them, they are happy at Milan and everything is under control. We are talking to other players and they are all happy to be at Milan. They are happy here.”
Has your idea about the type of coach you need changed?
“The way we work with Conceiçao is the same as we had with Fonseca. We had already thought about some players. This coach likes a certain type of player, and Fonseca liked others. The way we work is always the same. Self-criticism of the management? We always want to do our best. When you know you’re doing a good job, then the results come.”
it’s hard seeing neutered Ibra…
This is blah blah blah. He says nothing with many words.
It’s weird that he says that right back wasn’t an objective. But it should’ve been and maybe it was, but he doesn’t want to say it.
Midfield should be an objective also. We are seriously lacking there. I don’t know who. But some kind of creativity.
I miss Adli…
It’s wasn’t an objective because football people understand that defense isn’t the problem right now. People absolutely hate Royal and also Calabria, and that blinds them to the fact that (at least until Conceicao arrived) DEFENSE WAS NOT THE PROBLEM. The problem is scoring goals. Maybe one of our four right backs can now be trialed at striker?
And then this problem is further divided into the camp that thinks we need a striker (the one I’m in) and another camp that thinks we need some kind of playmaker for “better service”. We shoot plenty and create chances. Finishing is what we need.
Pavlovic should be our bomber from now on.
More effective in the box than Morata.
Morata can go play his favorite position. CDM
I miss Adli too
Ibrahimovic really became a kitty with this management walker wasn’t needed and a player from second division of Netherlands is that it will not even cost something.
This management thinks the transfer market is 20 21 years back I don’t think they know what they are doing
YOU PEOPLE DON’T GET IT !!!! CHAMPIONSHIP TEAMS ARE BUILT ON GREAT DEFENSES WHICH ARE ONE OF MILAN’S WEAK POINTS…….
YOU PEOPLE DON’T GET IT !!!! CHAMPIONSHIP TEAMS ARE BUILT ON TEAMS AND MILAN ISN’T A TEAM JUST A RANDOM COLLECTION OF INDIVIDUALS THAT SOME ALGORITHM BROUGHT TOGETHER…….
YOU PEOPLE DON’T GET IT !!!! CHAMPIONSHIP TEAMS ARE BUILT ON GREAT DEFENSES WHICH ARE ONE OF MILAN’S WEAK POINTS……. CHEERS TO WALKER !
We needed a rightback, a striker and a contender with Leo