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Zlatan Ibrahimovic & Robinho Press Conference: Milan Will Win The Scudetto, I Don't Care About Inter, Milan Are Greater Than Barcelona - Ibra
Ibra and Robinho have spoken their first official words as Milan players...
Sep 9, 2010 10:30:00 AM
By Salvatore Landolina & Carlo Garganese
New Milan signings Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Robinho have been presented to the press, and have revealed their happiness at joining the Rossoneri.
The pair who arrived from Barcelona and Manchester City respectively in the final days of the transfer window have transformed Milan's chances of glory this season with many now tipping them to win the Scudetto and challenge seriously for the Champions League.
Ibrahimovic and Robinho spoke to the media for the first time at a specially arranged press conference at the Boscolo Hotel in Milan city centre. The Swede, in particular, had some controversial things to say, declaring that he "didn't care" about Inter, and that Milan "would win the Scudetto".
Ibrahimovic
"The first few days at Milanello have been fantastic and I received a great response from all," Ibrahimovic declared.
"I could tell this is a great thing and the fans have all been excellent. Everything has been fantastic. Finally I am here now and I think this is the most beautiful shirt I have played in."
Ibrahimovic immediately signalled his intention to achieve great things with his new club.
"Every year you always have to win everything," the 28-year-old stressed.
"When you have a great team like Milan then you are favourites to win the Champions League and Scudetto. Now that I am back in Italy I am hungrier than I was last time I was here. I always enter things to win and if I don't then I have made a mistake.
"With Robinho, Milan have shown that other teams should be scared of us. We can win everything. With motivation, hard work and will then we can win everything I am sure of this. We have the best defence and attack. If we do our job then we can just attack. But, it's all down to the coach. We have five of the strongest strikers in the world. Pippo Inzaghi is a phenomenon as well."
On his reasons for joining, Ibrahimovic told the press: "Silvio Berlusconi convinced me to join. I spoke to him twice and he said many important things. It convinced me. I was already ready, before the clubs agreed. Galliani then came to Barcelona and he said to me 'I won't go back to Milan without you'.
"No player can say no to Milan. There's nothing much to think about, you just say yes and thank the club."
As a former Inter player, Ibrahimovic was inevitably asked about what it would be like facing his old side - especially as his transfer has angered many at Appiano Gentile.
"When I sign for a club then it's always my last club, but you never know what happens," he sighed.
"Barcelona was meant to be my club for life, but then small things make a difference. I hope to stay here long, but it all depends on the club and coach.
"I think Milan are greater than Barcelona if you look at the history. I don't know what the problem was at Barcelona, but Berlusconi convinced me to come here.
"I have never been this motivated in my whole career. I still need a bit more training to be in peak condition and my ambition is to do well. Me and Robinho can play football and we want to give the people trophies. We will see what happens at the end of the season.
"Barcelona-Milan or Milan-Inter? I can't wait to play against Inter. I had a great time at Barcelona and Inter, but Inter are the opposition and I cannot wait for the derby. This year's Serie A is between two clubs... Milan and Inter, but we will finish first and they will finish second."
"Now I am a Milan player. I don't care what Inter have been saying. Milan is my future. We are complete now and have a great mentality. We are favourites to win the Scudetto now. I won at Inter, but now I am here to win. I hope I can do better here compared to what I did at Juventus and Inter. We will make sure the fans enjoy the season.
"People should be happy. Wherever I have been I have won. I left Inter for a stronger team. I left Barcelona because there was someone there who did not want me. I am here now and I want to thank the president and Galliani. I am sure I will win here."
Robinho
Robinho's first words were: "Us players here have really great talent and I hope we can all play together.
"The only proposal I had was from Milan and I have always wanted to play here. They have many Brazilians and are one of the greatest clubs with a rich history. I had always hoped to make this transfer.
"I hope this season is positive for me and the club and I want to win everything with Milan. I hope to give my best for Milan. With all these great players around me I will be able to show my value on the pitch.
"I have always played at great clubs in the past, but these were based on individuals, not on a team. It's different here. I hope to be happy here at Milan."
There has been a great debate in the press whether Milan should play all four of their so-called 'fabulous four' attackers - Robinho, Ibrahimovic, Ronaldinho and Pato - together at the same time. Robinho believes it is workable.
"Any team can play with four strikers. The most important thing is that Milan score goals, not individual players," he noted.
"I hope to have fun. Pato and Ronaldinho are players who can decide games in an instant. I hope Ronaldinho can return to playing for Brazil."
On his spell at Manchester City, Robinho explained: "I had problems with English football, it's not made for Brazilians. I never had problems with Roberto Mancini. I wish him all the best with Manchester City. My focus now is to play for Milan."
Adriano Galliani
Milan vice president Adriano Galliani was at his best playing up to the media.
"These two arrivals I am sure will show their great technical qualities and they have evoked great enthusiasm by their arrivals," assured Galliani.
"The ideals between Silvio Berlusconi and the fans returned. All the signs have shown that Kaka's sale has been forgotten thanks to these two players.
"Ibrahimovic and Robinho's arrivals have seen our season ticket sales go up and we are now up to 45,000 fans. I think we can beat the 52,000 record from a couple of years ago.
"If you have to buy players then they have to be ones that change the vibes of the club. Ibrahimovic and Robinho fit in. Berlusconi only wants super players.
"I don't know if Ibrahimovic knows this, but Gunnar Nordhal is our all time top-scorer. I hope he can beat this.
"From Robinho I expect him to continue the great traditions of all Brazilian players who have come here. We hope to win the Champions League as soon as possible and I want Robinho to score three in the final."
Galliani also explained his content at how the summer transfer market went.
"Things started slowly, but then everything moved so fast towards the end," he stated.
"It's clear when I knew David Villa went to Barcelona that I started to think about Zlatan. If Villa did not arrive to Barcelona, then perhaps Ibrahimovic would not have left.
"Same thing with Balotelli and Robinho. We had a great transfer market. We refused many offers for important players too."
On Uefa President Michel Platini's new financial fair play initiative that will only allow clubs to spend what they earn from 2012, Galliani said: "I agree with Platini on this for sure. Financial fair play is to balance expenditure and income.
"Milan's accounts will not worsen with the arrivals of Ibrahimovic and Robinho. We have been careful. Two players left, two arrived. I have always watched the balance and I can assure you that these increased costs don't impact the income. We did a great transfer market and it will not impact our balance negatively."
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The pair who arrived from Barcelona and Manchester City respectively in the final days of the transfer window have transformed Milan's chances of glory this season with many now tipping them to win the Scudetto and challenge seriously for the Champions League.
Ibrahimovic and Robinho spoke to the media for the first time at a specially arranged press conference at the Boscolo Hotel in Milan city centre. The Swede, in particular, had some controversial things to say, declaring that he "didn't care" about Inter, and that Milan "would win the Scudetto".
Ibrahimovic
"The first few days at Milanello have been fantastic and I received a great response from all," Ibrahimovic declared.
"I could tell this is a great thing and the fans have all been excellent. Everything has been fantastic. Finally I am here now and I think this is the most beautiful shirt I have played in."
Ibrahimovic immediately signalled his intention to achieve great things with his new club.
"Every year you always have to win everything," the 28-year-old stressed.
"When you have a great team like Milan then you are favourites to win the Champions League and Scudetto. Now that I am back in Italy I am hungrier than I was last time I was here. I always enter things to win and if I don't then I have made a mistake.
"With Robinho, Milan have shown that other teams should be scared of us. We can win everything. With motivation, hard work and will then we can win everything I am sure of this. We have the best defence and attack. If we do our job then we can just attack. But, it's all down to the coach. We have five of the strongest strikers in the world. Pippo Inzaghi is a phenomenon as well."
On his reasons for joining, Ibrahimovic told the press: "Silvio Berlusconi convinced me to join. I spoke to him twice and he said many important things. It convinced me. I was already ready, before the clubs agreed. Galliani then came to Barcelona and he said to me 'I won't go back to Milan without you'.
"No player can say no to Milan. There's nothing much to think about, you just say yes and thank the club."
As a former Inter player, Ibrahimovic was inevitably asked about what it would be like facing his old side - especially as his transfer has angered many at Appiano Gentile.
"When I sign for a club then it's always my last club, but you never know what happens," he sighed.
"Barcelona was meant to be my club for life, but then small things make a difference. I hope to stay here long, but it all depends on the club and coach.
"I think Milan are greater than Barcelona if you look at the history. I don't know what the problem was at Barcelona, but Berlusconi convinced me to come here.
"I have never been this motivated in my whole career. I still need a bit more training to be in peak condition and my ambition is to do well. Me and Robinho can play football and we want to give the people trophies. We will see what happens at the end of the season.
"Barcelona-Milan or Milan-Inter? I can't wait to play against Inter. I had a great time at Barcelona and Inter, but Inter are the opposition and I cannot wait for the derby. This year's Serie A is between two clubs... Milan and Inter, but we will finish first and they will finish second."
"Now I am a Milan player. I don't care what Inter have been saying. Milan is my future. We are complete now and have a great mentality. We are favourites to win the Scudetto now. I won at Inter, but now I am here to win. I hope I can do better here compared to what I did at Juventus and Inter. We will make sure the fans enjoy the season.
"People should be happy. Wherever I have been I have won. I left Inter for a stronger team. I left Barcelona because there was someone there who did not want me. I am here now and I want to thank the president and Galliani. I am sure I will win here."
Robinho
Robinho's first words were: "Us players here have really great talent and I hope we can all play together.
"The only proposal I had was from Milan and I have always wanted to play here. They have many Brazilians and are one of the greatest clubs with a rich history. I had always hoped to make this transfer.
"I hope this season is positive for me and the club and I want to win everything with Milan. I hope to give my best for Milan. With all these great players around me I will be able to show my value on the pitch.
"I have always played at great clubs in the past, but these were based on individuals, not on a team. It's different here. I hope to be happy here at Milan."
There has been a great debate in the press whether Milan should play all four of their so-called 'fabulous four' attackers - Robinho, Ibrahimovic, Ronaldinho and Pato - together at the same time. Robinho believes it is workable.
"Any team can play with four strikers. The most important thing is that Milan score goals, not individual players," he noted.
"I hope to have fun. Pato and Ronaldinho are players who can decide games in an instant. I hope Ronaldinho can return to playing for Brazil."
On his spell at Manchester City, Robinho explained: "I had problems with English football, it's not made for Brazilians. I never had problems with Roberto Mancini. I wish him all the best with Manchester City. My focus now is to play for Milan."
Adriano Galliani
Milan vice president Adriano Galliani was at his best playing up to the media.
"These two arrivals I am sure will show their great technical qualities and they have evoked great enthusiasm by their arrivals," assured Galliani.
"The ideals between Silvio Berlusconi and the fans returned. All the signs have shown that Kaka's sale has been forgotten thanks to these two players.
"Ibrahimovic and Robinho's arrivals have seen our season ticket sales go up and we are now up to 45,000 fans. I think we can beat the 52,000 record from a couple of years ago.
"If you have to buy players then they have to be ones that change the vibes of the club. Ibrahimovic and Robinho fit in. Berlusconi only wants super players.
"I don't know if Ibrahimovic knows this, but Gunnar Nordhal is our all time top-scorer. I hope he can beat this.
"From Robinho I expect him to continue the great traditions of all Brazilian players who have come here. We hope to win the Champions League as soon as possible and I want Robinho to score three in the final."
Galliani also explained his content at how the summer transfer market went.
"Things started slowly, but then everything moved so fast towards the end," he stated.
"It's clear when I knew David Villa went to Barcelona that I started to think about Zlatan. If Villa did not arrive to Barcelona, then perhaps Ibrahimovic would not have left.
"Same thing with Balotelli and Robinho. We had a great transfer market. We refused many offers for important players too."
On Uefa President Michel Platini's new financial fair play initiative that will only allow clubs to spend what they earn from 2012, Galliani said: "I agree with Platini on this for sure. Financial fair play is to balance expenditure and income.
"Milan's accounts will not worsen with the arrivals of Ibrahimovic and Robinho. We have been careful. Two players left, two arrived. I have always watched the balance and I can assure you that these increased costs don't impact the income. We did a great transfer market and it will not impact our balance negatively."
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