Zlatan Ibrahimovic is eager to play an important role when Milan look to clinch the Serie A title at Sassuolo on Sunday.
Victory at the Mapei Stadium will see the Rossoneri win the Scudetto for the first time since 2010-11, which was during Ibrahimovic s first stint with the club.
The Swede returned in January 2020 and in 72 appearances in all competitions has scored 35 goals – nine more than any of his team-mates in the same time frame – at a rate of one every 129 minutes.
Ibrahimovic, whose contract is set to expire at the end of the season, has also contributed 11 assists for a total of 46 goal involvements. Rafael Leao is second on 42 for Milan but has played 28 games more.
Although only 11 of the 40-year-old s Serie A appearances this season have come as part of the starting line-up, head coach Stefano Pioli believes he has been crucial to Milan s title challenge behind the scenes.
Asked if Ibrahimovic was keen to play an important role against Sassuolo, Pioli replied: A lot, like all of us.
We are experiencing an important moment. The season will finish tomorrow. There s a difference between winning and losing, and everyone must think they can be decisive.
Zlatan has brought a strong mentality and quality. He has more football intelligence than anyone else. He has been a reference point and has been instrumental in the growth of the team, which have been good at following his lead. They have become stronger players with him.
Next up; the final showdown:
Brought to you by
— AC Milan (@acmilan)
Sassuolo have won each of the past two Serie A meetings between the teams but Milan are on a run of five straight away league wins against the Neroverdi.
Today, in my opinion, we deserve to be first. We ve been the best team but also need to be [against Sassuolo], said Pioli.
It s a difficult game. Nobody has given us anything this season and tomorrow will be the same. I just think about preparing as best as possible, knowing that we have reached this point with solid foundations.
Sassuolo can surprise you. It will be a complicated match tactically and physically, but we know how to fight and suffer.
