Why Zlatan Ibrahimovic cannot play for AC Milan vs Tottenham Hotspur in second leg
AC Milan will have a 1-0 lead to protect against Tottenham Hotspur in the second leg of their UEFA Champions League round-of-16 encounter, but they will have to do it without Zlatan Ibrahimovic.
The 41-year-old Sweden icon played his first game of the season on 26 February when he played 16 minutes in AC Milan’s 2-0 Serie A win against Atalanta BC. He has been sidelined since the start of the season due to a knee injury.
Given his long-term injury, Milan did not include him in their UEFA Champions League squad for the knockout rounds (h/t Football.London). Zlatan has been imperious at the top of the game despite his age.
But the former Inter Milan and Manchester United striker would now be feeling past injuries take a toll on his body. The fact that he is into his 40s doesn’t help either.
No Zlatan vs Spurs
Even if he was available for the return leg against Spurs, it would have been interesting to see if manager Stefano Piolo picked him.
That being said, his threat in the air and his acrobatic finishing ability make him a threat no matter how old he is. He would have surely been a player to watch out for, especially on set pieces, had he played against Spurs in the coming month.
I Rossoneri won the first leg at San Siro earlier this month but now have the task of facing Spurs at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on 8 March. Milan have the likes of Rafael Leao, Divock Origi, Brahim Diaz, Oliver Giroud, and Ante Rebic to count on if they need goals.
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Zlatan or not, Spurs would have known that the Serie A giants are no easy team to face. We will have to be at our very best if we want to make the quarter-finals. A clean sheet will help, and so will an early goal.
