Zlatan Ibrahimovic says he’s delighted to see AC Milan add Mario Mandzukic, joking that there are now two scorers who should sow fear in opposing defenses.
Ibrahimovic’s incredible Serie A start to his season continued on Monday as the Swedish star shot twice to lead 10-man Milan to a 2-0 victory over Cagliari.
The goals were his 11th and 12th goals of the season, with Ibrahimovic reaching that goal in just eight games.
The Rossoneri will soon have another attacking option to rely on, with the club set to sign ex-Juventus striker Mandzukic for a six-month contract.
And Ibrahimovic sees the signing, along with the addition of French midfielder Soualiho Meite from Turin, as an advantage for a club that is already scoring a lot in Serie A.
“I am very happy,” said the Swedish striker Sky. “There will be two of us to scare the adversaries now!”
He added: “So far we are doing well. We’re almost halfway through the championship and now the games are starting to get more difficult.
“It will be a very difficult season, but now with Mandzukic and Meite, and I don’t know if more are coming, we will have more players available for the coach to do the rotation.”
Milan boss Stefano Pioli, meanwhile, said he was delighted to see the competition between the two veteran strikers moving forward.
“Ibra said he would take care of keeping him at bay,” Pioli joked after the game. “I’m happy, the club is ambitious, they want Milan to come back to the top. The arrival of Mandzukic enters into this situation.
“With so many commitments and critical issues this season, we need a lot of players.
“I also tell them that the quantity of minutes is not important, but the quality.
“When the club suggested it to me, I immediately said yes, I spoke to him, he is very motivated, he is a winner”
Ibrahimovic set a new personal best on Monday, with his two goals securing the net in nine straight starts in a top five for the first time in his career.
And, after shooting his brace, Ibrahimovic said it was a message to the young players on the pitch, which pushed him to stay at such a high level.
“Difficult game. Today it went well and with one less [player on the pitch], it’s not easy to play, ”he said.
“These young people motivate me, they play against me and make me run more and I don’t give up.”
AC Milan currently sit at the top of Serie A, ahead of rivals Inter who currently sit second.
The next step for Ibrahimovic and Co. is a clash with Atalanta before the Serie A leaders clash with Inter in the Coppa Italia quarter-finals.
