City
Epaper

Ronaldo and Ibrahimovic were special: Clement

By IANS | Updated: January 31, 2020 11:35 IST

English football manager Paul Clement feels Cristiano Ronaldo and AZlatan Ibrahimovic are special.

Open in App

Clement has worked with some of world football's biggest names including Ibrahimovic, Cristiano Ronaldo, David Beckham, Gareth Bale, Robert Lewandowski, and Didier Drogba.

Talking about Ronaldo and Ibrahimovic, both of whom now play in Italy for Juventus and AC Milan respectively, Clement said: "Two special people and characters as players were Zlatan and Cristiano," Clement said on BBC Radio 5 Live's Euro Leagues podcast.

"Of course, everyone can see the special talents they are on the pitch but on a personal level they are also interesting, funny and confident.

"Zlatan does it very openly, speaks very confidently - and at times it is arrogance, but that is what he is. He used to be like that on a daily basis and would ask me questions such as: 'What is Didier Drogba like?' I would go into detail about what he is good at and Zlatan would be like, 'He is not as good as me' and would make you laugh.

"They were both very professional on and off the field. The way they looked after their bodies with recovery, knowledge of nutrition.

"At his house in Madrid, Cristiano had special recovery facilities that you would find at a club or a health spa. He had a cold plunge; he really invested in his profession and health.

"Those type of people go the extra mile."

"I remember how strong Zlatan was with his team-mates (at PSG). I have never seen anyone demand so much from his team-mates," said Clement, a former Derby, Swansea and Reading boss.

"Brazilian left-back Maxwell was an example of that - someone who he played with at Ajax, Inter, Barcelona and PSG. When Zlatan had a go at Maxwell about something in a game or in training, he would just tell him where to go.

"Some other players were like shrinking violets and I felt for them. They were shaking in their boots when Zlatan had a go at them."

( With inputs from IANS )

Tags: ZlatanClementCristiano RonaldoDidier DrogbaRonaldo And Ibrahimovic
Open in App

Related Stories

InternationalTrump’s Dinner: From Cristiano Ronaldo to Elon Musk; Here's Who Joined Saudi Crown Prince at White House

InternationalDonald Trump To Host Cristiano Ronaldo at White House on November 18

FootballFC Goa 2-1 Al-Nassr: Cristiano Ronaldo-Less Saudi Team Beats Indian Football Team in AFC Champions League Two

FootballCristiano Ronaldo Engaged to Georgina Rodriguez After 8 Years Together (See Pic)

FootballCristiano Ronaldo Pays Heartfelt Tribute To Diogo Jota: “We Will All Miss You”

फुटबॉल Realted Stories

FootballDates for The Finalissima fixture revealed; generational clash between Messi-Yamal to take place

FootballLionel Messi sported Team India T20 jersey during Delhi visit; met Paralympic javelin champion Sumit Antil, Kuldeep Yadav

Football2025 FIFA Intercontinental Cup Final: PSG beat Flamengo on penalties

Football"We do love the sport, but perhaps not enough to support our own players": Jhingan laments over state of Indian football amid Messi tour hype

FootballLionel Messi had guided tour of Vantara's expansive conservation ecosystem