Tuttosport newspaper reports Zlatan Ibrahimovic blamed Milan players for their general attitude and had one-on-one meetings with Mike Maignan and Kyle Walker on Wednesday.
The RedBird Advisor joined club directors and coach Sergio Conceiçao for an emergency debrief at Milanello on Wednesday following Milan’s Champions League elimination.
According to Tuttosport, Ibrahimovic also had individual meetings with Maignan and Walker before talking to the rest of the team.
‘The speech was not long, but it was straightforward,’ wrote Tuttosport.
‘Zlatan held the team accountable without mincing words or omitting anything. The club’s elimination from the Champions League playoffs has caused enormous damage to its image and finances.
Of course, the focus was on the team’s performances, as their general attitude on the pitch has become intolerable. It is almost as if they step onto the field with the presumption that something positive will eventually happen during the game.
‘Ibra reminded everyone that, on the eve of the match against Dinamo Zagreb, Milan were among the top eight teams in the Champions League group stage. He then demanded a strong reaction in Serie A, where Milan now face a crucial trio of matches against Torino, Bologna and Lazio, with nine vital points at stake in the race for a Champions League spot.’
The Rossoneri finished the Champions League’s opening phase in 13th with 15 points but wasted a chance to qualify for the Round of 16 by losing the last league stage game against Dinamo Zagreb.
La Gazzetta dello Sport added that Milan’s Champions League exit will lead to drastic decisions over the summer, such as Theo Hernandez’s sale. According to the report, the Rossoneri will listen to offers for the Frenchman, who won’t be offered a contract extension.
Milan is 7th in Serie A with 11 wins, eight draws, and five losses, totalling 41 points. They’ve scored 36 goals and conceded 24. They are five points below the top four, but they have a game in hand against Bologna next week at the Dall’Ara.
