07.12.2009 13:49
Ibrahimovic is happier than ever
Anna Segura
Zlatan Ibrahimovic is having one of his best spells since coming to Barça. He also has a good chance of topping the goal-scoring table for La Liga as he is currently second on ten strikes.
The longer he’s at Barça, the happier Zlatan Ibrahimovic feels. That came across at his press
conference this Monday lunchtime at the Joan Gamper sports facility. He smiled a lot and was
particularly tickled when in one of his answers he uttered what has virtually become his
catchphrase: “Molto contento” (very happy).
Goals galore
Zlatan Ibrahimovic has played in 12 of Barça’s 14 League
encounters so far this season and has found the net ten times, just one behind current top scorer,
Valencia’s David Villa. Barça’s Swedish striker hopes to keep up his goal scoring
streak and says that putting the ball away is a lot easier in Guardiola’s side “because
the team attacks a lot” and there is “a different mindset” to the one to be found
in Italy.
Choose one
Ibra thinks that all his ten League goals are important “whether
they’re 30-yard strikes or tap-ins”. However, he did say that if he had to choose one
he’d pick his volley against Real Madrid, “because of the atmosphere you get at one of
the world’s most important games”.
Comparisons with Italy
Ibra is gradually finding out that football in Spain and Italy are different things. This is
especially true at Barça, he says, “where people want to play elegantly and score
goals” whereas in Italy “one nil’s enough”.
Growing
Even though he is the Catalan outfit’s top goal scorer in the
League, Ibrahimovic believes he still hasn’t reached his limit: “I can play better and
grow a bit more.” He thinks he’ll be able to do that with time and more freedom on the
pitch.
The Messi-Ibra connection
The Messi-Ibrahimovic combination has already created lots of goals, so it comes as no
surprise that the Swede is really happy with his strike partner: “I’m sure the fans
love it too because we get to do some unbelievable things”.
As for the Golden Ball Messi picked up on Sunday, Ibra says the
Argentine has “had an incredible year” and recognised the work done by his team-mates:
“the Golden Ball is for the entire side after doing the treble.”
Dynamo game
On Wednesday Barça has a crucial game in Kiev. “It’s a great chance to top our CL
group,” said Ibra. “However, it’s going to be a tough game.”