By Daily sports on February 8, 2021
Zlatan Ibrahimovic broke the 500-mark for career club goals with a brace on Sunday as AC Milan held top spot in Serie A with a 4-0 win over lowly Crotone.
“It’s difficult to be surprised by Ibrahimovic,” said Milan coach Stefano Pioli of the 39-year-old who is powering his team’s bid for a first ‘Scudetto’ since 2011.
Milan moved back two points ahead of city rivals Inter Milan who had pulled ahead after a 2-0 win over Fiorentina on Friday, with champions Juventus a further five back in third after beating Roma by the same scoreline on Saturday.
Ibrahimovic opened the scoring on the half-hour at the San Siro after combining with Rafael Leao for his 500th club strike.
And the Swede brought his tally to 501 in the 64th minute, finishing off a Theo Hernandez cross for his 83rd Milan goal.
“To hold up at this level means you’re an exceptional professional and he’s helped by a physique that few have,” continued Pioli.
“He’s a champion, an athlete who has the great motivation, he takes care of his body scrupulously. Sometimes he’s tired, but he never fails.”
“He’s helping the team to grow a lot.
“I have frankly never seen him go wrong. Now the players are competing to see who arrives first (at training), and obviously, he’s among them.”
Ante Rebic turned the game into a comprehensive win with a quick-fire brace of his own past Crotone goalkeeper Alex Cordaz.
The Croatian headed in a Hakan Calhanoglu corner in the 69th minute and then seconds later turned in a rebound after Cordaz kept out an Ibrahimovic strike.
“The Scudetto? The decisive matches will come later, now we have to withstand all the pressures which is a privilege to have,” continued Pioli.
“The top seven are all capable of fighting for the title and the first four places. (AFP)
•PHOTO: Zlatan Ibrahimovic
Source Daily sports
Posted February 8, 2021
You may also like...
FIFA Wants Biennial World Cup Consensus By December...
Barcelona Expect Chelsea Bid for Coutinho
Ibra sparks Utd, Everton sink Foxes
Nwakaeme, John Ogu crash out of UEFA Champions...
Barcelona Move For Liverpool Midfielder Wijnaldum ‘Beginning To...
Preston deny Villa automatic promotion

England battle Norway as Argentina face Swiss in World Cup last eight
World Cup: Spain, France semi-final clash, final before the final – De la Fuente
African results justify World Cup slots increase amid criticism
Everyone expects Spain to beat us, says Belgium coach
Okoye backs France to win World Cup
Joshua, Fury opponents vow to ruin mega-fight plans
C’wealth Games: Olopade targets swimming, judo breakthrough
Teen girl dies celebrating France’s World Cup win
Balogun apologises to fans after US W’Cup exit
Eaglets suffer second defeat in China tourney
Alalshikh sets condition for Joshua, Fury Wembley fight
France urges calm during World Cup game against MoroccoFrance urges calm during World Cup game against Morocco
Rangers International going, going . . . (63,949 views)
Amaju Pinnick: A cat with nine lives (55,288 views)
Second Term: Amaju Pinnick, Other NFF Heavyweights Home to Roost •How Pinnick Broke the Jinx (53,197 views)
Current issues in Nigerian sports: Matters arising (52,806 views)
Sports Development: Zenith Bank on the zenith (52,691 views)
Missing $150,000 IAAF Grant: Solomon Dalung’s Hide and Seek game (52,559 views)
Gov. Abdullahi Ganduje’s solid footprints, commitment to sports development in Kano State (52,448 views)
NFF Presidency: Pinnick, Maigari, Ogunjobi, Okoye in Battle for Supremacy (51,966 views)
Olopade, BET9A wave of revolution in NNL (51,182 views)
Commonwealth Games 2018: Shame of Muhammadu Buhari, Solomon Dalung (49,650 views)
Ibrahimovic’s Man U exit: Whose decision is it? And in whose interest? (48,128 views)
John Mikel Obi: Segun Odegbami’s Outrageous Call! (47,518 views)