Scudetto’s hopes fell to just their second loss in 2020-21, although the loss did not stop them from being left halfway through the season.
AC Milan forward Zlatan Ibrahimovic has warned his players they could not rest on their laurels after seeing the Serie A winter champions fall to a 3-0 loss at home to Atalanta on Saturday .
A Rossoneri veteran knows more than most about what it will take to finish at the top of the hill.
Ibrahimovic, a league champion in four different countries, is clapping for his 14th title in 2020-21 alongside Stefano Pioli.
But any treat when it reached the halfway point of the season in the first place went over a poor afternoon at San Siro, where Cristian Romero, Josip Ilicic and Duvan Zapata met for the visitors.
Milan are still two points clear of Inter’s closest rivals, but Ibrahimovic insists they can’t pay so badly again if they want to take on the Scudetto.
“A lot went wrong today. I do not want to look for excuses, because in every game you have to go out there looking for the result. We have not been able to manage that today, ”said Ibrahimovic Sky Italia Sports after the last whistle.
“The important thing now is to regain our energy and focus on the next game. Fortunately, that’s only a day or two away, so we have a chance to make up for it.
“After 19 rounds in which we only lost two games in Serie A, I don’t think that’s too bad. Unfortunately, when you miss so many players and have inexperienced ones to come forward in their place, you can tell.
“It simply came to our notice then. We work hard and make sacrifices. We are winter heroes, but that does not mean anything to me, but I believe that we have done well so far. The difficult part begins now. ”
Saturday also saw Mario Mandzukic make his Milan debut off the bench after moving to San Siro during the January transfer window.
Ibrahimovic is looking forward to working with the striker, although he admits that communication so far has been somewhat difficult.
“Mandzukic doesn’t say much. I tried to say hello to him in Slav, in Italian, “he said.
“The coach asked him if he wanted to say a few words and he said no. He’s not a speaker, but that’s fine, he’s very crowded.”