Ibrahimovic under fire after failing Champions League test

Robin Bairner

• Updated: 20 Feb 2025 13:41 GMT
• 4 min read

Zlatan Ibrahimovic is not someone who has taken criticism lying down, yet the AC Milan’s senior advisor is facing major scrutiny following the Rossoneri’s shock Champions League exit.

Milan were dumped out of Europe’s biggest competition on Tuesday as they were held to a 1-1 draw at home by Feyenoord, going down to a 2-1 aggregate loss.

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This was just the start of a chastening week for Serie A, which saw Atalanta beaten by Club Brugge and Juventus dumped out of the competition by PSV. Inter Milan standalone as the competition’s sole representative in the last 16.

The Rossoneri have been particularly disappointing, though. They lie seventh in Serie A and face the prospect of missing out on Europe entirely next season.

The blame game has shifted from Theo Hernandez, who was sent off, to head coach Sergio Conceicao and now eyes are falling on Ibrahimovic, a veteran of Manchester United, Inter Milan, PSG, Barcelona and, of course, AC Milan, himself.

“Zlatan Ibrahimovic has failed the first real test of his life as a manager,” La Repubblica claims.

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Zlatan Ibrahimovic: AC Milan's boss under fire

Ibrahimovic’s job title may only be as an advisor at the club, but in reality, he sees himself as more than that.

“I am the boss and I am in charge, all the others work for me,” he told Sky Sport Italia back in September when asked to clarify his role.

He said following the arrival of Joao Felix at the end of the transfer window that Conceicao has “two teams” to work with, apparently bubbling with enthusiasm over the prospect of a strong second half to the season.

Felix, who arrived on loan from Chelsea, flopped against Feyenoord, which was a performance that led Ibrahimovic to reflect: “We killed ourselves.”

Making an appearance at the press conference after the club’s exit, he added: “I'm not one of those people who try to do things that don't go down in history. I'm the exact opposite. I want to make a difference, make history.

“Milan is a club that is making history. And everyone who works for Milan is here to do the same. You make history when you win titles - and that is Milan.”

Ibrahimovic is facing down the criticism with his typical bluster, but just as he had a reputation for failure when it came to the crunch in the Champions League as a player, he threatens to have a similar tag as “the boss”.