Burkina Faso
Chinese Taipei
Nigeria

Zlatan Ibrahimovic's team talk that inspired AC Milan to their latest win

mirror.co.uk, 9 May 2022, 06:19
AC Milan are closing in on their first Serie A title in 11 years and can thank Zlatan Ibrahimovic for his impact on and off the pitch after a crucial win against Hellas Verona on Sunday AC Milan star Zlatan Ibrahimovic inspired his team to victory at half-time

Zlatan Ibrahimovic has been credited with boosting his team's morale when they needed it most as AC Milan came from behind to beat Hellas Verona 3-1 on Sunday.

The result puts Rossoneri two points ahead of Inter Milan in the battle for the Scudetto with just two games to go and the title race set to go down to the wire. If they go on to clinch the trophy, it will be the first time since 2011 that they would have lifted it.

But they nearly fell behind at the weekend after going a goal down to Verona at the Stadio Bentegodi Stadium after 38 minutes. After Inter had already won on Friday against Empoli, it meant that Stefano Pioli's men needed a win to retain their two-point lead in Serie A.

On the cusp of half-time, Sandro Tonali equalised to give the visitors hope but it was Ibrahimovic's rousing words that geared up the Milanese to go on and claim all three points. Just moments after the break, Tonali scored his second before Alessandro Florenzi put the game to bed with five minutes to go.

Pioli has since revealed what Ibrahimovic said, explaining after the match: "We knew there was no tomorrow, there was only today. Ibrahimovic said something wonderful: 'Everyone remembers the Milan players who won the Scudetto or the Champions League, so if we want to be remembered, we've got three games to do it.'"

Have your say! Who will win Serie A this season? Comment below

Ibrahimovic has not had the same impact in front of goal as he did last year, when he scored 15 times in 19 appearances. Instead, the 40-year-old has just eight in 22, but his impact has stretched beyond hitting the back of the net with his leadership and presence.

AC Milan have dark history with Verona, where they have choked at their stadium before. In 1973 and 1990, they lost in both years to famously lose their chance to win the title in crushing blows for the club.

But there was no such repeat here and the San Siro outfit know that if they manage four points from their remaining two matches, they will be crowned champions. The Diavolo host Atalanta on May 15 before taking on Sassuolo on May 22.

Even if they finish level on points with their biggest rivals, Milan will still win the title having a better head-to-head record this season agains Inter. Simone Inzaghi's men have an extra game to contend with as well.

Inter face Juventus next in the Coppa Italia final on Wednesday night, meaning they could end the season with a double. Their opponents have had a difficult season despite the return of Massimiliano Allegri.

A stuttering start has proved detrimental and they look set to finish fourth behind Napoli, a stark decline from the side that won nine Scudettos in a row. The problems arose last year when Andrea Pirlo joined despite no managerial experience and they went from champions to nearly missing out on the Champions League.

Top News

2 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Brighton & Hove Albion Women will welcome Aston Villa Women to Broadfield Stadium for Sunday's Women's Super League contest. 2 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester United must reportedly fend off the threat of two European heavyweights if they are to acquire one of their top defensive targets this summer. 2 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Two sides with contrasting objectives clash in the Turkish Super Lig when Samsunspor host Trabzonspor at the Samsun 19 Mayis Stadyumu on Saturday evening. 2 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk A long-serving Liverpool defender is reportedly open to exploring a move away from Anfield this summer alongside Jurgen Klopp. 2 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Chelsea have reportedly set their sights on bringing a former Arsenal number one back to the Premier League this summer. 2 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Sporting Lisbon will be looking to take another step towards securing the Primeira Liga title when they play host to Portimonense at the Estadio Jose Alvalade on Saturday. 2 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Chelsea head coach Mauricio Pochettino felt that his players showed the qualities required to improve as a team during their 2-0 victory over Tottenham Hotspur on Thursday night. 2 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Last season's runners-up Fiorentina secured a brilliant 3-2 victory thanks to M'Bala Nzola's 91st-minute winner against Club Brugge after a fascinating first leg. 2 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Bundesliga champions Bayer Leverkusen recorded a 2-0 victory over Roma in the first leg of their Europa League semi-final in Italy on Thursday night. 2 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Chancel Mbemba cancelled out an opener from Gianluca Scamacca, as Marseille drew 1-1 with Atalanta BC in the first leg of their Europa League semi-final in France on Thursday night. 2 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Unai Emery has made three changes to his Aston Villa XI for Thursday's Europa Conference League semi-final first leg against Olympiacos. 2 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Aiming to address their woeful run of form at the end of this campaign, Coventry City will welcome Queens Park Rangers to the Coventry Building Society Arena on Saturday afternoon in the Championship. 2 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk On Saturday, Everton Ladies will welcome Tottenham Hotspur Ladies to Walton Hall Park for their final home game of the Women's Super League season. 2 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Needing a point to guarantee their Championship survival, Sheffield Wednesday will head to the Stadium of Light to meet Sunderland on the final day of the season on Saturday. 2 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Tottenham Hotspur have made five changes for Thursday's Premier League game at Chelsea. 2 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Real Madrid midfielder Aurelien Tchouameni has reportedly picked up a foot injury, which could rule him out of Saturday's La Liga clash against Cadiz. 2 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Liverpool have received a timely injury boost ahead of Sunday's Premier League showdown with Tottenham Hotspur, as one of their injury victims was pictured in full training on Wednesday. 2 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester United are reportedly planning to offer Crystal Palace the chance to re-sign Aaron Wan-Bissaka as part of a deal which could see Michael Olise move to Old Trafford. 2 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Three days on from their Champions League semi-final first-leg victory in midweek, Borussia Dortmund return to Westfalenstadion to welcome Augsburg for a Bundesliga clash on Saturday afternoon. 2 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Fresh from their Champions League semi-final bout in midweek, Bayern Munich travel to the MHPArena to face Stuttgart in a top-three clash in the Bundesliga on Saturday afternoon. 2 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Monaco will attempt to tighten their grip on second spot when they face basement side Clermont in Saturday's Ligue 1 fixture at Stade Louis-II. 2 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Arsenal striker Gabriel Jesus has reportedly made a decision on his future at the Emirates amid reports that the Gunners could try to offload him in the upcoming transfer window. 2 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Arsenal could reportedly let three of their academy products leave the club this summer as a means of raising funds for their pursuit of Newcastle United's Bruno Guimaraes. 2 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester United head coach Erik ten Hag said that Jadon Sancho demonstrated that he is "a very good player" with his performance for Borussia Dortmund on Wednesday night. 2 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Celtic play host to Hearts on Saturday afternoon looking for the win that will move them a step closer to defending their Scottish Premiership title. 2 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Still vying for a place in Europe thanks to their recent revival, Lazio visit mid-table Monza on Saturday evening. 2 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Leicester City will be bidding to reach the 100-point mark when the already-crowned Championship winners play host to Blackburn Rovers on Saturday afternoon. 2 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk The only team to beat champions Inter Milan in Serie A this season, Sassuolo continue their fight for survival when the two sides meet again on Saturday evening. 2 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Leeds United square off against Southampton on Saturday afternoon know that only a win will do if they want to retain hope of automatic promotion from the Championship. 2 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester City could be without goalkeeper Ederson for Saturday's Premier League clash with Wolverhampton Wanderers at the Etihad Stadium.