Zlatan Ibrahimovic has defended the under-pressure Stefano Pioli and also offered some words of advice for Rafael Leao and Charles De Ketelaere.
Ibrahimovic spoke during an interview for SportMediaset with Claudio Raimondi and he was asked about the criticism that has been aimed at Pioli given that Milan are on a run of four losses in a row and seven games without a win in all competitions.
“These are normal things, it’s the Milan coach and if things don’t go well it’s right to criticise the coach and the team. We are professionals and we expect criticism, it’s not all roses, criticism is part of the job,” he said (via MilanNews).
“If you can’t handle the pressure of criticism, you don’t have to do this job, but criticism is part of our world and it’s useful because it keeps you on top. When you’re ugly, you can become beautiful.”
Ibrahimovic has often spoke about the mentoring role he has had with Leao which helped him blossom to the extent of him becoming the Serie A MVP for last season, but there is uncertainty surrounding the winger’s future and his recent form has not been brilliant.
“He had a fantastic year, he won the award for the best player in the league. Then the contract, other clubs looking for you, the World Cup and all the rest. But he has to stay focused and only think about playing football,” Zlatan said.
“Everything else is resolved, he just has to think about playing. He has become stronger than a year ago, only this year everyone knows who Leao is, last year they were less focused on him. Now, however, they know that he is the strongest of all and they are more careful of him.”
The Rossoneri’s big signing of the summer was De Ketelaere with over €30m invested to sign him from Club Brugge, yet so far he is yet to score (after netting 18 goals last season) and has just one assist.
“In recent months I wasn’t with the team every day, to get to know him well I have to be in the dressing room every day. He has great pressure because of the price paid, everyone has expectations. He is a talent, he has great potential, he just has to find the right path to grow,” Ibrahimovic said.
“He then he is in another city, away from home and has to get used to it. But when you arrive at Milan everyone helps you, they welcome you in the best possible way, when you enter our dressing room you feel at home. He just has to unlock, then once he unlocks everything starts.”
