Zlatan Ibrahimovic has been credited with boosting his team's morale when they needed it most as AC Milan came from behind to beat Hellas Verona 3-1 on Sunday.
The result puts Rossoneri two points ahead of Inter Milan in the battle for the Scudetto with just two games to go and the title race set to go down to the wire. If they go on to clinch the trophy, it will be the first time since 2011 that they would have lifted it.
But they nearly fell behind at the weekend after going a goal down to Verona at the Stadio Bentegodi Stadium after 38 minutes. After Inter had already won on Friday against Empoli, it meant that Stefano Pioli's men needed a win to retain their two-point lead in Serie A.
On the cusp of half-time, Sandro Tonali equalised to give the visitors hope but it was Ibrahimovic's rousing words that geared up the Milanese to go on and claim all three points. Just moments after the break, Tonali scored his second before Alessandro Florenzi put the game to bed with five minutes to go.
Pioli has since revealed what Ibrahimovic said, explaining after the match: “We knew there was no tomorrow, there was only today. Ibrahimovic said something wonderful: ‘Everyone remembers the Milan players who won the Scudetto or the Champions League, so if we want to be remembered, we’ve got three games to do it.’”
Have your say! Who will win Serie A this season? Comment below
Ibrahimovic has not had the same impact in front of goal as he did last year, when he scored 15 times in 19 appearances. Instead, the 40-year-old has just eight in 22, but his impact has stretched beyond hitting the back of the net with his leadership and presence.
AC Milan have dark history with Verona, where they have choked at their stadium before. In 1973 and 1990, they lost in both years to famously lose their chance to win the title in crushing blows for the club.
But there was no such repeat here and the San Siro outfit know that if they manage four points from their remaining two matches, they will be crowned champions. The Diavolo host Atalanta on May 15 before taking on Sassuolo on May 22.
Even if they finish level on points with their biggest rivals, Milan will still win the title having a better head-to-head record this season agains Inter. Simone Inzaghi's men have an extra game to contend with as well.
Inter face Juventus next in the Coppa Italia final on Wednesday night, meaning they could end the season with a double. Their opponents have had a difficult season despite the return of Massimiliano Allegri.
A stuttering start has proved detrimental and they look set to finish fourth behind Napoli, a stark decline from the side that won nine Scudettos in a row. The problems arose last year when Andrea Pirlo joined despite no managerial experience and they went from champions to nearly missing out on the Champions League.
