The red and black half of Milan is reeling after a demoralizing Champions League playoff exit at the hands of Dutch side Feyenoord. Needing to overturn a 1-0 first leg deficit, 10-man Milan could only muster a 1-1 draw at the San Siro, crashing out of Europe’s elite club competition 2-1 on aggregate. The lackluster showing immediately called into question the club’s flurry of January transfer activity. However, one prominent figure remained steadfast in his belief that Milan’s winter overhaul will bear fruit: Zlatan Ibrahimovic.
Ibrahimovic: “This Team Is Twice as Strong”
The legendary Swedish striker, who transitioned into a senior advisor role at Milan in December 2023 after hanging up his boots, came out with a full-throated defense of the Rossoneri’s squad shakeup. Speaking after the deflating Champions League elimination, Ibrahimovic declared, “The Champions League was a goal for us so it’s a disappointment. We weren’t happy and in January we made these moves to improve, but there is no guarantee.”
Bold as ever, Zlatan went a step further, proclaiming that the current Milan side is superior to the one that ended the club’s 11-year Scudetto drought in 2022. “I played in that team and I can say that this team today has a better chance of winning,” he asserted. “It’s twice as strong. We won with that team, but this one is better in terms of quality.” Fighting words from a man who was instrumental in delivering that long-awaited Serie A title.
A New-Look Milan
There’s no denying that this is a drastically different Milan side than the one that lifted the Scudetto trophy two seasons ago. Club legends like striker Olivier Giroud and captain Davide Calabria have moved on, while January saw an influx of fresh faces. The marquee signing was undoubtedly Portuguese star João Félix, who arrived on loan from Chelsea. Mexico international Santiago Gimenez also made the switch from, ironically, Feyenoord. In all, Milan brought in five new players in the winter window in an attempt to salvage their stuttering campaign.
Félix: “It’s a Huge Disappointment”
While Ibrahimovic staunchly defended the transfer dealings, Milan’s shiny new signing João Félix couldn’t hide his frustration after the premature European exit. “We were in control but everything changed after Theo’s sending off,” lamented the 23-year-old, referring to Theo Hernández’s costly second yellow card for simulation early in the second half. “It’s a huge disappointment. I really wanted to play in the Champions League for Milan, but I ended up only playing two games.”
No Excuses from Zlatan
For his part, Ibrahimovic refused to pin the blame on Hernández’s dismissal or make any excuses. “On Theo’s second yellow card the referee was harsh: for simulation in a match like this, give at least a warning,” he conceded. “But we are not angry with the referee, we are angry with ourselves. We lost and the opponent was stronger. We killed ourselves. It’s our fault, there are no excuses or complaints. We need to look in the mirror and see what we did wrong. I think there was a lack of maturity, you win 1-0 and you keep playing. I want to see a dominant Milan.”
Scudetto or Bust?
Sitting seventh in the table and five points adrift of the top four, Milan now face an uphill battle to salvage their season and secure a return to the Champions League. However, with a Coppa Italia semifinal berth already booked and a rejuvenated squad at Stefano Pioli’s disposal, Ibrahimovic insisted that domestic silverware remains firmly in play. “Now the important thing is to stay as a group and think about the league. We will try to save the season by winning the Coppa Italia and finishing in the top four in Serie A.”
Bold proclamations are nothing new from the charismatic Swede. But after a chastening European exit, Milanisti everywhere will be hoping Zlatan’s words prove prophetic rather than mere bravado. The Rossoneri’s season, and the success of their January gamble, hangs in the balance.
