Ishaq Mustafa
AC Milan forward Zlatan Ibrahimovic will not be among the players to play Wednesday’s opening Champions League group game against Liverpool with an Achilles tendon issue.
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Ibrahimovic, who clocks 40 in October, made a goalscoring back from injury on Sunday’s Serie A victory against Lazio.
“After the match he had some inflammation,” said the Italian team’s coach Stefano Pioli.
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“We hoped he could play but he still had pain so we don’t want to risk playing him.
Seven-time European champions Milan are making their first appearance in the Champions League since 2014 and head to Anfield with a 100% record in the Italian top flight after winning their first three fixtures this season.
Prior to the news that the Sweden forward would not be travelling to Merseyside, Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp had praised his enduring quality.
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“Zlatan. What a player,” Klopp said. “I saw videos of him when he got injured a few months ago and saw him on the spinning bike and fighting back saying ‘Lions don’t rest long’ or whatever he said.
“He’s a man for exceptional moments. If he’s not playing, Olivier Giroud will play or [Ante] Rebic will play. All really good players.
“Zlatan is one of the best players this game has ever seen. He knows that and he says that to everybody and I like that about him.
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“Some careers end even when there is still a bit of fuel in the tank but he squeezes every drop out of his body. He is capable of playing in each league in the world and that is exceptional.”
