Ibrahimovic: 'Mind sharp, body follows'

By Football Italia staff

Zlatan Ibrahimovic confessed he is a little rusty, but was pleased to score for Milan after almost eight years. “My mind is sharp, the body has to follow.”

Ibra was on target in a 2-0 victory away to Cagliari, following Rafael Leao’s opener.

This was his 57th goal in 87 appearances for Milan, his first since a brace against Inter on May 6, 2012.

Aged 38 years and 100 days, it also made him the fifth oldest Rossoneri player to score in Serie A, younger only than Nils Liedholm (38 years and 120 days), Pippo Inzaghi (38 years and 277 days), Paolo Maldini (39 years and 277 days) and Alessandro Costacurta (41 years and 25 days).

“It’s important for a striker to try and be there, then sometimes it goes in, sometimes it doesn’t. I feel good, I got a few balls wrong at the start of the game, but I need a few matches to get into shape,” he told Sky Sport Italia.

“I’ll celebrate like a God at San Siro, not here. I celebrate God every time I score, that way I feel alive!”

Coach Stefano Pioli asked during the second half if the Swede wanted to come off, but he lasted the entire 90 minutes plus six of stoppages.

“I feel good, the coach just wanted to think about by age and see if I needed a rest, but there’s no problem. My mind is still sharp and the body has to follow.”

This was an all-new Milan, dropping Suso, Lucas Paqueta and Krzysztof Piatek for a 4-4-2 formation.

“We played with two strikers and two wingers to push the whole team further forward, and it went well. We worked on this system all week.

“This was my second game, the first ended 0-0 with Sampdoria, we have three points here and have to keep working. When you work hard, luck turns your way.”

Ibra has only a six-month contract with option to extend, so was asked if this was the first step towards a new deal.

"No, I have to win the Scudetto for an automatic renewal!" he joked.

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