RedBird Advisor Zlatan Ibrahimovic admits followers give him the largest strain, however insists: ‘I’m not right here to fail,’ and describes star Luka Modric as a ‘chief on the pitch, not outspoken.’
Ibrahimovic joined Tom Brady for a chat on , the place they mentioned their lives and careers.
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When speaking about management skills, Ibra, an advisor to Milan proprietor Gerry Cardinale, talked about Milan star Modric: “I imagine you’re a chief or not a pacesetter. Then we could be leaders in numerous methods. For instance, now we have Modric at Milan. He’s a pacesetter, however he’s not outspoken; he doesn’t converse a lot. He’s a pacesetter on the pitch; he does the main issues on the pitch together with his high quality and talent,” Ibra mentioned.
Ibrahimovic’s interview with Tom Brady: Modric and Italian followers
“Then you’ve gotten outspoken leaders, who take duty in numerous methods. When there’s a warmth, he steps in entrance and takes care of it. Then you’ve gotten the mentality and the psychological a part of the participant, and that shapes wherever you go.”
Ibrahimovic and Brady went on to debate followers’ involvement and mentality in soccer and American soccer.
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“I needed to carry out in each coaching; that was how I used to be constructed. We had been dropping in coaching. I mentioned, ‘Guys, I don’t lose even three video games in coaching.’ That’s my mentality. I’ve to win,” mentioned Ibrahimovic
“After which, in Europe, the strain from the followers is so excessive. , the place I spend quite a lot of time, for them [football] will not be solely about being followers, it’s a faith. So if you happen to play for his or her staff, their staff, no matter it’s, Milan, , Inter…It’s extra vital than their household as a result of they’re born right into a state of affairs the place they’re a Milanista, a Juventin, or an Interista.
“So now you’re enjoying in a staff that’s theirs, of their world. Yeah, it’s theirs,” continued the ex-striker.
“So when it’s good, everyone’s singing, all the things is nice. When it’s dangerous, then you need to be robust. Mentally and as an individual.
KITZBUEHEL, AUSTRIA – JANUARY 25: Zlatan Ibrahimovic, former participant, seems on as he attends the Males’s Downhill of the Audi FIS Alpine Ski World Cup on January 25, 2025 in Kitzbuehel, Austria. (Photograph by Christian Bruna/Getty Photos)
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“We now have conditions the place they will wait outdoors the coaching. You include the automobile, and they’re going to smash your automobile. So if you happen to include a pleasant automobile, you’d higher know which automobile you include. Typically we include a low-profile automobile, and we’re like, smash that, don’t fear, the vital one is house; however you may think about the strain and the depth and the warmth from the followers.
“Nevertheless it’s the alternative when issues are going properly, as a result of when issues are going properly, you’re flying. It’s important to hold a stability as a result of while you’re flying, you may loosen up.
“It will depend on the person you’re,” Ibra added.
“We had conditions within the stadium the place they needed to enter the pitch, get to the gamers and that. However for me… pay attention, I’m right here, I’m doing my finest. I’m not right here to fail. I’m not attempting to fail.
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“If I’m not adequate, that’s one other factor. However I don’t in my world, I don’t imagine any individual is attempting to do one thing to fail.
MILAN, ITALY – MARCH 08: The AC Milan followers present their help through the Serie A match between AC Milan and at Giuseppe Meazza Stadium on March 08, 2026 in Milan, Italy. (Photograph by Marco Luzzani/Getty Photos)
“Within the followers’ world, they suppose in another way. It’s like he [a fan] can take out your coronary heart, and it belongs to him,” concluded the ex-striker.
“We’re human beings; we make errors. Every thing we do will not be all the time assured, however the warmth is there, so think about, as an athlete. There’s strain from the membership, media, your contract state of affairs, a giant contract, extra strain, and the followers are the massive strain in my world. I don’t know if I used to be fortunate. I all the time gained wherever I went.
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I used to be all the time on the great facet. There have been moments when there was warmth, however I used to be like: ‘That is my I don’t again down for no one.’ I’m not right here to idiot round, I’m right here to win, and I’m going to make you proud.”
Ibrahimovic has just lately following the Rossoneri’s failed try to qualify for the Champions League.
The Rossoneri fired coach Massimiliano Allegri, and administrators Giorgio Furlani, Geoffrey Moncada and Igli Tare.
Ibrahimovic will not be instantly employed by Milan and stays a .
Milan completed the 2025-26 Serie A marketing campaign in fifth place, solely snatching Europa League qualification.
Ibra could have an enter in selecting Milan’s new coach and administrators for the 2026-27 marketing campaign.