Ibrahimovic's Milan turn to Serie A title chase after Europa exit

MILAN: Zlatan Ibrahimovic's AC Milan return to their decade-long Serie A title quest on Sunday desperate to close the gap on leaders Inter after their Europa League exit to Manchester United.

"I want to play to win something," said Ibrahimovic, who returned after an injury layoff in Thursday's 1-0 defeat in the last-16 second leg against his former club.

"There are still a few games to win and at the moment we are second, we have to continue the race to win the championship.

"Then if we reach the Champions League, it's nice, but the goal is to win a trophy.

"We have a winning mentality and no one accepts losing, and that's something I brought.

"To continue, to come back stronger and learn from mistakes. This is part of success, we have to grow up and think about Sunday."

Ibrahimovic returned to Milan in January 2020 and has been credited with helping turn the team into title contenders again as they target a 19th Serie A trophy and first since 2011, when he also played with the club.

The 39-year-old's performances have also seen him recalled to the Sweden squad for upcoming World Cup qualifiers, reversing a five-year international retirement.

For Milan, as the other Italian teams, it was another bruising week of European football.

Atalanta and Lazio both exited the Champions League, after Juventus crashed out last week.

No Italian team have advanced to the quarter-finals of the elite European competition for the first time in five years.

Roma saved face in the Europa League with a 5-1 aggregate win over Shakhtar Donetsk in the Ukraine.