AC Milan fans had plenty to say after another disappointing result in Serie A for Paulo Fonseca’s side, and a report has suggested that Zlatan Ibrahimovic took to the dressing room after the game.
Playing for Milan brings a level of expectation, and so far, the level has fallen far below this. An opening day draw could be excused with signs of positivity against a newly promoted Parma side who have been absent from the division for four seasons. However, this was not the case.
Instead, the Rossoneri were humiliated as they lost 2-1, and questions are already in place about Fonseca and his ability to lead the squad forward.
Words of motivation
As Gazzetta dello Sport (seen below) writes, Ibrahimovic took to the dressing room and spoke his mind about the result and the squad listened. Whilst this is no new thing, it was different in many ways. Instead of shouts of frustration, there were words of clarity and motivation.
‘The quality is there, the team is in fact complete, now you have to be motivated,’ said the Swede, and whilst there are, perhaps, improvements still to be made, the team is near a finished article, but it did not show on Saturday.
Honest words
The paper continues, recalling how Ibra has previously turned tables for the good – that memorable video after winning the Scudetto – and hopefully, this talk can do the same thing. His words this time were blunt and honest, and more importantly, a repetition of his public thoughts.
Milan had issues tactically, and defensively, and above all, there was a lack of Rossoneri spirit and attitude. There were no signs of a side that wanted to fight together, play together, win together, and the squad were made aware of this if they were not already.
Moving forward as a team
Arguably, the lack of Rossoneri spirit is the biggest issue. A side who are not willing to sacrifice things for each other is not a team, it is individuals in a team, something which does not work. After all, 11 men running their own race will not progress in the same way that 11 unified men will.
Players must remember they must run together, for each other, and there were several who forgot this. Talent only gets you so far, but it does nothing if wasted, and this was the reminder that Ibrahimovic gave.
In the games to come, the Diavolo must do more, and be more. If they don’t, things could change.
