Zlatan: ‘I don’t have a big ego’

Milan striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic insists he does not have a ‘big ego’ as he is motivated by helping the team first. The 41-year-old Swede spoke with Milan TV to discuss his time with the Rossoneri and his imminent return to action after a long time out with injury:

“The important thing for me is to win the game, I do everything to help the team. If I do that as the oldest (for providing assists), that’s fine too.

I am someone who wants to help in every way, I don’t have the big ego of someone who wants to do everything himself. I am here at Milan to give everything, to help my teammates improve, to have success and understand what we’re doing.

It is a sacrifice, hard work and we aren’t doing this just to pass the time. When you provide an assist, it’s just as important as scoring a goal. I do everything I can to help.

Advice for the younger players I always ask them, if you are clear on goal with a teammate, do you score or provide an assist? If they say goal, I reply you’ll have trouble with me, because the right mentality is to believe an assist is just as important as a goal.

There are some players who go more for the goal, but in my view that’s not as enjoyable, you are not a complete player that way. You are complete if you raise your teammates up to your level.

The goal against Lazio? I was tying my laces and I stopped halfway because I saw a goal-scoring situation was developing. As a striker, I ran straight into the space towards the goal.

I also know full well what Ante is capable of and he provided me with the perfect pass. It was a simple goal, but only because I started the run early and saw the chance developing, so I was in the right place for a simple finish.

You need a feeling for the goal and that cannot be taught, you either have it or you don’t. This is why a team needs 11 players with many different elements and characteristics that slot together.”