MILAN, Italy: Zlatan Ibrahimović could once again be helping AC Milan mount an improbable title challenge.
AC Milan host defending champion Napoli this weekend while eight points behind Serie A leader Inter Milan, which have a game in hand. They would take an unlikely collapse from Inter to allow the Rossoneri back into the title race, but a remarkable upturn of form has seen AC Milan loom larger in the rearview of the top two.
AC Milan’s title hopes appeared to have all but disappeared after a dismal October and November when they slipped from first to third after winning just two Serie A matches in two months and also eliminated from the Champions League.
But then came Ibra.
The talismanic Swede, who officially retired at the end of last season, returned to Milan in an advisory role on Dec. 11 and the Rossoneri have won six of their eight league matches since then, drawing the other two.
His former teammates are delighted to have him back.
“He’s here to help us, especially in the mental approach and motivation,” veteran forward Olivier Giroud said. “He talks to me before and during matches, at halftime, he pushes me to become even more of a leader.”
Another forward was even more enthusiastic.
“With him we have a man extra,” Rafael Leão said.
Ibrahimović helped to fire Milan to their first title in 11 years in 2022 and while injuries restricted the forward to just four appearances last season, he was nevertheless an ever present on the sidelines, with encouragement and advice.
Younger players used to enthuse about how much they learned from him, and his impact can be seen in the sudden explosion of Milan forward Luka Jović.
The Serbia international didn’t score a goal for the Rossoneri until December. He has netted four times in his past five matches, including a late winner at Frosinone last weekend, two minutes after coming off the bench.
Ibrahimović has helped to instil some much-needed self-belief in Jović and the rest of the Milan players.
“We need to keep moving forward, we are thinking about the next game,” Jović said. “I hope we’re going to continue to play like we have. Napoli are a very good opponent, it’s going to be a difficult match, but we have confidence. We believe in ourselves.”
Second-placed Juventus, only four points ahead, is in Milan’s sights.
Juventus lost at Inter 1-0 last weekend. Inter face a tricky trip to Roma on Saturday, the day before Milan’s match against Napoli. Juventus host Udinese on Monday.
“As I have already said several times, Ibra is a huge extra value,” Milan CEO Giorgio Furlani said. “He was a champion on the field, and he is and will be off it, too.
“We are lucky, as Milan fans, as Milan the club, as directors, to have him with us.”
Ibrahimović once again helping AC Milan mount improbable Serie A title challenge
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Ibrahimović once again helping AC Milan mount improbable Serie A title challenge
- The talismanic Swede, who officially retired at the end of last season, returned to Milan in an advisory role on Dec. 11
- “He’s here to help us, especially in the mental approach and motivation,” veteran forward Olivier Giroud said
Forest, Celtic into Europa League play-offs as Villa fight back
- Villa looked to be sliding to just a second defeat in Europe this campaign when Salzburg surged 2-0 ahead in Birmingham through goals from Karim Konate and Moussa Yeo
PARIS, France: Nottingham Forest will go into the Europa League play-off round after a 4-0 win over Ferencvaros on Thursday, while Celtic secured their place in the knockout phase with victory over Utrecht.
Aston Villa finished second in the league phase after recovering from two goals down to beat Red Bull Salzburg 3-2 with their spot in the last 16 already assured.
Forest stood an outside chance of climbing into the top eight going into the final round of matches but needed to beat Robbie Keane’s Ferencvaros and rely on other results going their way.
Sean Dyche’s side did their bit as Igor Jesus struck twice for Forest after Ferencvaros defender Bence Otvos scored an own goal. James McAtee tucked away a late penalty, but the win was only enough for the Premier League club to finish 13th overall.
“It has not been easy through various games, the schedule, planning, traveling and all that sort of stuff. To come out of a disappointing one in Braga (1-0 loss last week) and then to deliver that I am very pleased,” Dyche told TNT Sports.
Twice former European champions Forest will learn their play-off fate on Friday. They will face Fenerbahce or Panathinaikos over two legs next month, while Stuttgart or Ferencvaros await Celtic, who overcame lowly Utrecht 4-2 after scoring three times in the first 19 minutes in Glasgow.
Benjamin Nygren put Celtic ahead before an own goal from Utrecht captain Nick Viergever. Arne Engels converted a penalty with Celtic cruising, but Utrecht pulled it back to within one until Auston Trusty’s header gave the hosts some more breathing space.
Teen wins it for Villa
Villa looked to be sliding to just a second defeat in Europe this campaign when Salzburg surged 2-0 ahead in Birmingham through goals from Karim Konate and Moussa Yeo.
Morgan Rogers reduced the deficit and Tyrone Mings headed Villa level, with 19-year-old Jamaldeen Jimoh-Aloba netting his first senior goal to complete the turnaround for Unai Emery’s men.
“It’s a proud moment for me on my European debut,” Jimoh-Aloba told TNT Sports. “It’s just really nice to make my family proud and stuff because of all the hard work. I’ve had a lot of lows this season and a lot of highs, but this is top.”
Villa, who sit third in the Premier League, will get a welcome break before the last 16 — where they could meet Lille, PAOK, Red Star Belgrade or Celta Vigo.
Emery has won the Europa League a record four times as a manager and Rogers believes that is a considerable advantage for Villa.
“He knows how to get his way through a competition, especially this one. To have him in our corner guiding us through it is going to be massive,” said Rogers.
Lyon topped the table with seven wins from eight after completing the league phase with a 4-2 victory over PAOK. A minute’s silence was observed before kick-off in memory of the seven Greek fans killed in a minibus accident in Romania on Tuesday.
Midtjylland, Real Betis, Porto, Braga, Freiburg and Roma all finished in the top eight to ensure direct qualification for the last 16.
Rangers concluded a miserable European campaign with a 3-1 loss at Porto, their sixth defeat in eight games in the competition.
