Related News
Ibrahimovic not obsessed by Champions League
Source: Agencies |
February 15, 2012, Wednesday
|
Print Edition
Print Edition
ZLATAN Ibrahimovic maintains the Champions League is not a personal obsession as he attempts to help AC Milan get over its hoodoo against English clubs this week.
Milan has been eliminated at the last-16 stage of the Champions League by English clubs in three of the past four seasons, with Arsenal beating the Italian champion 2-0 at the San Siro in 2008.
"Many years ago the Champions League was my goal to win at all costs," Ibrahimovic told the Champions League magazine. "But if you blow it up into something gigantic or make it too important, you'll end up never winning it.
"Now I aim to win every trophy I can. If I win, good. If I don't win, I don't win. And this does not diminish my career. If I retired today I would say I was very happy about my career, I have achieved all I could have."
Milan heads into the Arsenal match in high spirits, having regained its position atop Serie A, and with its lengthy list of absent players finally starting to relent. Christian Abbiati, Alessandro Nesta, Kevin-Prince Boateng, Alexandre Pato, Mathieu Flamini and Mario Yepes have all returned to training and are likely to be available, while Sweden striker Ibrahimovic is back from a domestic ban.
"You win titles because you play with champions, they are the people that allow you to win, it is not an individual matter," Ibrahimovic said. "My goal has always been to become as complete a player as possible. I have succeeded, I know what I can do and I am ready to sacrifice for the good of the team. You do not win because you are No. 1, but because the team is No. 1."
Milan has been eliminated at the last-16 stage of the Champions League by English clubs in three of the past four seasons, with Arsenal beating the Italian champion 2-0 at the San Siro in 2008.
"Many years ago the Champions League was my goal to win at all costs," Ibrahimovic told the Champions League magazine. "But if you blow it up into something gigantic or make it too important, you'll end up never winning it.
"Now I aim to win every trophy I can. If I win, good. If I don't win, I don't win. And this does not diminish my career. If I retired today I would say I was very happy about my career, I have achieved all I could have."
Milan heads into the Arsenal match in high spirits, having regained its position atop Serie A, and with its lengthy list of absent players finally starting to relent. Christian Abbiati, Alessandro Nesta, Kevin-Prince Boateng, Alexandre Pato, Mathieu Flamini and Mario Yepes have all returned to training and are likely to be available, while Sweden striker Ibrahimovic is back from a domestic ban.
"You win titles because you play with champions, they are the people that allow you to win, it is not an individual matter," Ibrahimovic said. "My goal has always been to become as complete a player as possible. I have succeeded, I know what I can do and I am ready to sacrifice for the good of the team. You do not win because you are No. 1, but because the team is No. 1."
- About Us
- |
- Terms of Use
- |
-
RSS - |
- Privacy Policy
- |
- Contact Us
- |
- Shanghai Call Center: 962288
- |
- Tip-off hotline: 52920043
- 沪ICP证：沪ICP备05050403号-1
- |
- 互联网新闻信息服务许可证：31120180004
- |
- 网络视听许可证：0909346
- |
- 广播电视节目制作许可证：沪字第354号
- |
- 增值电信业务经营许可证：沪B2-20120012
Copyright © 1999- Shanghai Daily. All rights reserved.Preferably viewed with Internet Explorer 8 or newer browsers.
