Milan manager Stefano Pioli has stated that Zlatan Ibrahimovic could return for the Rossoneri’s Champions League tie against Tottenham Hotspur.
Antonio Conte’s Spurs have been drawn with Milan in the Round of 16 of the Champions League and it will be a repeat of their tie in the 2010/11 season, where the Lilywhites progressed into the quarter-finals, where they lost to Real Madrid.
With Ibrahimovic out injured, Pioli has been using Olivier Giroud and Ante Rebic upfront but the Italian has now confirmed that Ibrahimovic may return for Milan’s tie in February against Conte’s Spurs.
Pioli told reporters at the press conference ahead of Milan’s game against Cremonese (via TMW): “We all hope that Zlatan can come back with us as soon as possible, the recovery is progressing well but then let’s see in February. In the Champions League, the moment you get there counts, there is still too much time left. We must be focused for tomorrow.”
Milan take on Cremonese in mid-week and recently picked up a close 2-1 win over Spezia in Serie A. The Rossoneri had faced Spurs’ London rivals Chelsea in the group stages of the Champions League and had lost both the games, but positive results against Dinamo Zagreb and Salzburg helped them progress into the knockout stages.
Kaustubh Pandey | GIFN
