Ibrahimovic: ‘Many rows with Allegri, but Guardiola and Mourinho changed football’

Zlatan Ibrahimovic admits to ‘many rows’ with Max Allegri at AC Milan, but the coach is ‘a winner’ along with Fabio Capello, while Pep Guardiola and Jose Mourinho ‘changed football.’

The legend sat down at the Festival dello Sport event in Trento to answer questions in front of the audience, including about the reunion with Allegri after they won the Scudetto together in 2010-11.

He admits their relationship was not always smooth sailing, although the situation has changed now that he is a director.

“I had many rows with Allegri, not just the one,” confessed Ibrahimovic.

“There was one time after the Arsenal game in London that everyone remembers. When you have two people with a winning mentality, this is normal, not every day is love and hugs, there has to be another side to those situations. Different characters, different mentality, it might seem like ‘wow, what happened?’ when it hits the newspapers, but it’s natural for us. Especially for me.”

Now Allegri is back at Milan as coach after more than a decade away, while Ibrahimovic is a consultant to owners RedBird.

“The team is doing well, we brought in a winning coach this summer, who brought with him experience and balance. When you win, the team spirit is always at the top. Everyone is united to do the best possible.”

They had been joint top of the Serie A table, but missed a penalty in their 0-0 draw with Juventus to slip back down the standings.

“I was in the locker room after Milan-Juve, because this is a family, so we lose and win together. Everyone was angry after the game because we knew that we could’ve won. When Allegri speaks, everyone listens, and he let loose because he was not happy. Everyone is full of adrenaline at that moment, so the response straight after is not the same as a day later.”

Ibrahimovic has worked with the best in football

Ibrahimovic has worked with many great coaches throughout his career, and points to some who influenced more than just his own game.

“Guardiola and Mourinho changed football, and I was fortunate enough that both wanted me in their teams. Guardiola was at the start of his career, the other was all mentality, getting into your head and controlling you. Both were winners, but in very different ways.”

When Ibrahimovic started his Serie A career, it was at Juventus under Fabio Capello, having arrived from Ajax.

“Capello is where my career as a world class player really began, that final step that so few manage to take. I trained differently, both mentally and physically. Capello is a coach who picks you up and slams you back down. He made you feel ‘wow’ one day and zero the day after.

“It was his strategy to get into your head. As a coach, that is the main thing, getting into the heads of your players, and making them follow you. Capello transformed me from a normal player into an animal.”

Yet Ibrahimovic never managed to win the Ballon d’Or, nor was he part of a team that lifted the Champions League trophy.

“The Ballon d’Or is not a regret, it’s just very strange that I didn’t win,” he laughed.

“The best player doesn’t always win. I didn’t win the Champions League either, that is no secret.”

Paris Saint-Germain striker Ousmane Dembele won the Ballon d’Or this year, but who would the Swede have given it to?

“I would give it to the player who made the biggest individual difference to a team, so for me that is Lamine Yamal.”