Zlatan Ibrahimovic has received a lot of criticism for his part in AC Milan’s 2024-25 failure, struggling to get through to the team. As recalled by a journalist, he certainly made mistakes, but connecting with the players seemed impossible.
A lot of things can be said about how the 2024-25 unfolded. From Ibrahimovic’s decision to put Jovan Kirovski in charge of Milan Futuro, to a subpar mercato for the first team, it’s clear why things went the way they did. However, it wasn’t always for the lack of trying.
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As recalled by the MilanNews journalist Antonello Gioia, speaking on his YouTube channel from Milanello, the atmosphere within the team was peculiar. Just like Stefano Pioli at the end of his tenure, as admitted by the manager himself, Ibrahimovic failed to get through to the team.
“I repeat, we are at Milanello. In these rooms, and I want to clarify, I’m not saying this in defence of Ibrahimovic. I don’t care to defend him. I believe that Ibra has made many mistakes, and Milan is paying the price. There’s no doubt about that.
“So, I’m not defending him. I’m just recounting facts that I know well. Many have told me about them, not just one person. I have evidence that has been verified, and some of it I’ve personally witnessed.
“What I can tell you is that Ibrahimovic turned these rooms upside down several times during the Conceicao era. Many times, he did so with gentleness, harshness, and even middle-ground methods.
“To be more precise, in some matches, especially during the dark period between February and March, the team was in the dressing room. Ibrahimovic entered and addressed the players with extreme severity.
“He was very strict on more than one occasion, and once, if you’ll allow me to use the expression, he was very exaggerated in his style and movements because he saw fit to do so. Not only that, but he also tried to use a gentle approach, giving motivational speeches to seek a reaction from the players, and sometimes using a middle ground.
“Another thing that happened was in the Coppa Italia final, or rather before it, in Rome about a month ago. Ibra gave a speech to the team, and then the team entered the pitch, as we know, and put in a very lacklustre performance.
“What reminded me of that match in Rome, and what reminded me of that incident with Ibrahimovic, is something Stefano Pioli said. Before Roma-Milan in the Europa League, with the team having lost 1-0 in the first leg at the San Siro, Pioli gave what he described as the best speech of his career.
“He said that the speech touched every nerve: spirit, motivation, charisma, leadership, tactics, and technique. But as we know, the team put in a lacklustre performance, just like in the Coppa Italia final.
“What does this mean? I don’t want to defend Pioli or Ibrahimovic. I repeat and emphasise that I don’t care about defending Ibra. In fact, I believe he’s among the main culprits for the situation at Milan, and he’s certainly the primary culprit for the failure of the Milan Futuro project.
“However, we must be fair to him and say that his presence, especially since January, has been very strong here at Milanello, but it hasn’t had the expected impact.
“I believe this group is no longer responsive. It no longer has motivation. It no longer has incentives. It lacks a strong core of players who are role models, who guide the team, and who consistently and consistently transmit these values to the dressing room,” he stated.
Based on those words, Milan do need the complete reset that we are currently witnessing. However, the question then becomes if the problems start further up the organisational chart, with someone like Paolo Maldini no longer present in the management.
You saved the truth of the matter to the last liñe of your article…. Simple as ABC there is no one able to transmit Milanismo to the team… Baresi couldn’t even relate with the guys, Furlani is a banker, Moncada a scout who knows nothing about sweating, pressure and responsibilities players experience on the field and worst still is scaroni and Cardinale( money men) who only wants more money! So Ibrahimovic not been able to transmit and influence them is down to the relationship with not been one of a mentor but of a former teammates! IMO at least for me, my former teammate cannot motivates me compare to someone who had won all there is to win…
Lol. Like Ibrahimovic has not won plenty. So what you’re saying is, that if a team doesn’t have a guy with 5 champions leagues in management then it’s game over and nobody will ever be motivated to do anything? Someone has to hold the players to account. If Maldini shows us anything, it’s character. He could have left Milan at any time, and earned more anywhere, and probably won more too. But he stayed, and worked, and won some, because he had character. Totti was the same for Roma. These players won ONE SCUDETTO and then went on a perpetual vacation. This entire generation is f-cked. No work ethic, no pride, no playing for the shirt. They play for the next transfer/contract. This is why we need more Italians, and specifically, more players who came through the system. They will, at least, have a bit more loyalty and commitment to the shirt. Forget Milinkovic-Savic, GIVE THE GLOVES TO TORRIANI. Give Bartesaghi more time at CB. Extend Liberali and start integrating him to the first time. Give Zeroli first team minutes. Give Camarda first team minutes. Yes, these players are not going to win a title next season, but if they play and grow they might in 3-4 seasons, and then from there it can go on, and we’ll be bring up more and more players from Futuro. This is how it ought to work. Not spending money on a bunch of mercenaries with neck tattoos who will steal penalties from their teammates, sulk on the other side of the field during water breaks, not run during games, etc. Those types can p*ss off to Saudi Arabia.
ibra is a poser, who should stay away from the locker room. i think one of the issues this season was that neither players nor coaches wanted him to play smarta.. if he likes to hold speeches, he can become a coach himself, but i doubt he would reach anthing.
“I believe this group is no longer responsive. It no longer has motivation. It no longer has incentives. It lacks a strong core of players who are role models, who guide the team, and who consistently and consistently transmit these values to the dressing room,”
This. And this is why I am ok with Mike, Theo and Leao leaving. Also that’s why I believe that this is exactly what we need. New, fresh blood, players that will actually try and fight.
Read between the lines… Ibra can’t get through to them but then there is also a lack of leadership within the players. Why then can’t Maignan, Theo, or Leao motivate the team when Ibra can’t? There does seem to be the need more more leadership in the team and the aforementioned players ain’t it.
If BM offer 80 mln, sell Leao. Sell Theo. Buy young guys who are hungry for trophies, players who fight for the ball.
or even 70 mln.
We know your shame to loose 3times in same year and hardly draw another match in last minute.
Go watch your team who won nothing.
We will look after our player’s.
Hmm. I’d rather be a CL finalist and second in Serie A, and keeping most of my top players. than 9th in Serie A and completely disintegrating as a club. Just saying.
“It lacks a strong core of players who are role models, who guide the team, and who consistently and consistently transmit these values to the dressing room.”
The role models this season were Theo, Leao, Maignan, Tomori and Calabria. Petulant individuals.
During the scudetto season the role models were Zlatan, Kjaer, Giroud, Romagnoli, Kessie. Grown men.
This. 100%.
Erm weren’t the first group part of the Scudetto team?
And wasn’t Calabria the captain after Romagnoli was dropped?
How about no group of humans can survive the dismantling of the group?
And a total lack of loyalty from fans like you.
“And a total lack of loyalty from fans like you.”
SAYS THE COMO FAN WHO HAD ENOUGH YEARS AGO!!! 😀 😀 😀 😀 😀
You are doubting the leadership of Maignan who is already acting as a leader even in presence of giroud,kjaer and which is admitted by Giroud,Pioli etc.,
When there is Zlatan, there is also Maldini, Pioli who are real managers and know how to keep a team together. Player’s give their all for them and team.
Now there are some clowns, only Maignan who is close to 30’s in team. All other player’s are mid 20’s to say that they should manage this clown leadership and Manager’s.
For sure it’s big lesson for Leao, Theo and it’s big mistake not having a leader like kjaer atleast as these managers dismantle the team. He could have managed it better.
Zlatan who has to fill this gap, become a weak manager who is neither close to player’s nor the manager.
It’s easy to blame player’s especially as they have best managers for 4years and suddenly these clowns in last year or 2.
It’s upto your IQ to understand where the problem exist. For sure everyone who made this club like a circus.
Shouldn’t have sacked Maldini
Milan thought Ibrahimovic could replace Maldini as the club’s inspirational banner personality. But lol, I don’t think Ibra is that great of a motivator or negotiator if he can’t back you up against a wall and stand over you.
In Maldini’s last season Milan had the worst month in their entire history.
Also, after a Spezia loss towards the end of that same season, the fans had to step in and give the players a talking to, and motivate them in front of the whole world.
Where was Maldini the inspirational banner personality then?
The locker room is run by the players, not by a director.
Zlatan and the older players controlled the locker room, not some director. Just like today, the director Zlatan has no influence on the locker room as the player Zlatan did.
Milan needs leaders in the locker room. Players, not directors in suits.
The atmosphere at Milan changed when Zlatan got signed in January of 2020, not when Maldini was hired in August of 2018.
Sensible and constructive.
Maldini delivered the Scudetto and back to back champions league.
Who gives a f’ck about a bad month.
Honestly please just stop supporting the club. You’re utterly toxic.
I didn’t see Maldini on the pitch, but if you wanna know who was in charge of the locker room, go check the video from the locker room after the last game of the season in Sassuolo.
It is Zlatan speaking, not Maldini, not Massara, not Gazidis and definitely not Pioli. They were all in some corner in the room listening to Zlatan and clapping their hands.
Calabria was wearing the armband only because he was the longest tenured player on the team, not because he was an actual leader. We saw this season when he was left to his own devices without a grown men around him how great of a leader he is.
Aren’t you suppose to support Bologna, since they have Calabria over there?
I have to agree. Although Calabria was loyal hr was NEVER captain material. Didn’t even ever act like a captain and the only reason he had it was because he served longest. But at the same time, who is captain material at milan? Conceicao chose maignan and he’s pushing for a move to Chelsea. Vice captains theo and leao are pushing for moves out of milan. The same players who were the worst last season.
I really want to know in what club a Sporting or Technical director leads the locker room? It never happened, not even in Milan golden days that Galliani would come in and start his inspirational speech. It was always leaders withing the team that spoke. Same goes when sh*t hits the fan and players are approached by fans like you said after Spezia match. SD never involves. Maldini’s work was evident behind the doors, being there for playes outside of the pitch, in training and personal life. That’s where the difference was made. There’s also a video Spaletti confronting Theo in the dugout and Maldini stepped in and gave Spaletti some telling. That’s what SD do. Protect players outside the pitch. And that’s what non of these clowns ever did. Just remember the Gala dinner where fans attacked players outside the restaurant and these executive clowns went it through the back door, leaving players alone to face the wrath. That’s the problem. This club under this ownership and management reeks of toxicity and it’s evident by what’s happening now.
Well said…
“Maldini” shouldn’t be the reason for the player’s success on the pitch. If 24 players need one specific man to be sitting in the stands to be professional and perform, it’s a problem. Most of these players gave played for multiple teams in their careers. Most have had different coaches, different teammates, different directors, lived in different countries. All of this is part of the game. You do your job. If they need someone to hold their hand all the time, then they should look for another type of work.
Ibrahimovic means toxic that guy is rude and childish
You sound like one of those people who have no internal monologue. Either that or you just don’t understand how humans work. Ibra was the drive of the team for 2 Scudetto. These guys are lazy and have no motivation simple.
On the pitch yes, Of it not so much.
If he did it many times and it kept getting worse….. maybe it was the wrong approach?
No, these guys aren’t men, they’re children, especially that pink haired fool Theo Hernandez
You’re a disgrace.
Go find a differently club/hobby.
Furlani seems to be our biggest problem. He is so weak it’s not even funny. I hate his face and most of all his bad work at Milan. And I don’t usually hate people.
Ibra 433 was the worst! Absolutely destroyed Milan DNA.
“It lacks a strong core of players who are role models, who guide the team, and who consistently and consistently transmit these values to the dressing room”
And this is precisely why selling Tijjani Reijnders at this time is a mistake.
What about when players needed protection at the Gala dinner but these executive clowns sneaked in through the back door and left players on their own to face the wrath of the fans? They even had the balls to lecture these players and give them motivational speech on that Gala dinner.
What about Ibra blackmailing Morata, Tomori and Calabria using his “Ibra tone” to force them out in January?
Looking for excuses to justify his sorry a*s I see. Once a mercenary, always a mercenary. This club under this ownership and its “management” reeks of toxicity and it’s evident both on and off the pitch.
The biggest problems is player ego.
They are getting paid to play football and they failed.
Stop blaming others.