As AC Milan reset and regroup over the break, Stefano Pioli will hope that Zlatan Ibrahimovic is ready to lead our charge in the last stretch of the season.
The 40-year-old was forced off just 28 minutes into our showdown with Juventus on Sunday night, with the Swede seen with an ice pack on his Achilles on the bench as he watched on during the goalless draw.
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It’s hoped that the injury isn’t anything serious and that he’ll be ready to play against Inter next month, but ultimately, there should be a level of concern over Ibrahimovic’s recent form.
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Ibrahimovic has managed just one goal in his last five Serie A appearances, which also includes a misfire from the penalty spot as he has struggled in front of goal in recent weeks.
Further, he’s failed to score in games against Inter, Napoli, Roma and Juventus so far this season, while his last assist in the league came on October 31.
For such an influential figure leading the line who has the ability to bring others into play and create space around him, the fact that he has two assists in 19 outings so far in this campaign is particularly concerning as that is an area of his game that should be picking up as the years tick on.
As we saw on Sunday against Juve, Ibrahimovic likes to drop short and get on the ball to make things happen in the final third. That is part of the evolution of his game and the changes that he has had to adapt too as he’s no longer making the same amount of movement off the ball as he used to.
However, too often he gifts possession back to the opposition and sparks a counter attack and if not, he plays the ball out wide and while he’s stood 30 yards away from goal having dropped deep, there is no one in the box for his teammates to target with their cross and so the whole move breaks down again.
The defeat to Spezia was a tough one to take and another disappointing outing for our stalwart as he wasn’t able to physically impose himself on the defenders and almost bully them into conceding chances and goals as he has done so often over the years throughout his career, but particularly in Serie A.
While there is still plenty that he can offer the side, it is a worry that the goals have dried up and the assists aren’t coming, and with Olivier Giroud competing for a spot this season too, it remains to be seen if Pioli continues to stick with him or opts for the Frenchman to lead the line in the coming weeks.
Perhaps the more worrying aspect is the long-term picture. We can still rely on Ibrahimovic to score goals this season, albeit it seems intermittently now, but at 40 and with Giroud turning 36 later this year, it’s a real concern that we don’t have a solution ready to step in yet.
Pietro Pellegri’s injury troubles and form have raised doubts over his ability to step up as his loan spell has been anything but a success to date, and so it remains to be seen if that’s a priority for Milan this summer if Ibrahimovic’s form doesn’t improve between now and the end of the campaign.