Ibrahimovic or Van Basten - who's better? Are the two Milan legends incomparable? With this question in mind, *Gazzetta dello Sport* interviewed Marco Van Basten himself. Van Basten admitted that he often sees his own shadow in Ibrahimovic, but comparing two players across different eras and contexts is, in his view, very difficult. Since one of the protagonists couldn't definitively say who was better, *Gazzetta dello Sport* sought opinions from some observers.
Former Milan manager Arrigo Sacchi believed that both Ibrahimovic and Van Basten have their strengths and weaknesses. Meanwhile, current Milan assistant coach Tassotti thought that the two shared similarities in many aspects.
Sacchi praised Ibrahimovic for his current contributions to the team: "He helps out with defensive work. He uses not only his physicality and technical skills in attack but also actively moves around the field to lead the team. If Ibrahimovic continues at this level and maintains this approach, he will eventually achieve the same international influence and personal accolades as Van Basten." Sacchi acknowledged that while Van Basten won the European Golden Ball three times, Ibrahimovic has his own advantages: "He has matured, transforming from someone obsessed with individual performances into a complete footballer."
The relationship between Sacchi and Ibrahimovic wasn’t always smooth. At the start of the season, they had an argument after a home game against Auxerre, where Ibrahimovic scored a goal. In a post-match interview with Mediaset, Ibrahimovic told Sacchi to shut up, feeling that he talked too much on TV and in newspapers. Sacchi, in turn, accused Ibrahimovic of lacking manners. After such a long time, Sacchi once again spoke about Ibrahimovic in the newspaper. This time, however, he had plenty of good things to say. When discussing the pros and cons of Ibrahimovic versus Van Basten, Sacchi said: "I don't think it's correct to judge who is stronger between Ibrahimovic and Van Basten. I coached Van Basten, and his extraordinary skills left a deep impression on me. But I must admit that today, Ibrahimovic is no less valuable than Van Basten. In my opinion, Van Basten was more elegant and better at collaborating with teammates and linking up the whole team. However, today’s Ibrahimovic no longer focuses solely on individual performances; he has greatly improved in terms of teamwork and maturity. After a failed season at Barcelona, he is eager to re-prove himself. Since returning to Italy, he has started serving the entire team, which has led to his full explosion of talent."
If Sacchi might be suspected of flattering Ibrahimovic, then Milan assistant coach Tassotti's comments were much more objective. Sacchi coached Van Basten, while Tassotti played alongside him. "Like Van Basten, Ibrahimovic is a born winner. Both are filled with the desire for success, but Ibrahimovic’s competitive spirit seems even stronger," Tassotti said. He also admitted that in terms of playing style, Van Basten was more elegant: "Ibrahimovic is physically stronger, but his technique is no less impressive. Ibrahimovic also has more power; he weighs 10 to 12 pounds more than Van Basten, and his physique is even stronger than that of basketball players. Remember, Van Basten already had a robust body, and few defenders could get the better of him in challenges. Today’s Ibrahimovic is the same—defenders can hardly stop him now. Thiago Silva often says during training that defending against Ibrahimovic is like climbing a mountain."