Milan season has been a big failure: Ibrahimovic

Milan: Zlatan Ibrahimovic has described AC Milan's season as one big failure, claiming that Massimiliano Allegri's men had gifted their Serie A title to Juventus.

The Rossoneri saw their hopes of retaining the Scudetto end with a dramatic 4-2 loss to city rivals Inter Milan on Sunday, with Juventus having defeated Cagliari 2-0 to put four points between the two sides with just one round of the season remaining.

A frustrated Ibrahimovic argued, though, that the damage had been done before the Derby della Madonnina, citing Milan's controversial draw at Catania and a shock home defeat to Fiorentina as the decisive moments in the title run-in.

"This season is one big failure," the Sweden international declared in an interview with Aftonbladet. "We looked forward to winning and to playing better than ever before. However, I think that we gave away this Scudetto more than Juve have won it. We gave away an opportunity for Juve to win, and then they, of course, got motivated and hungry again."

"We had everything under control, everything in our own hands, and then we drew with Catania and lost against Fiorentina at home. But congratulations to Juve. They've done a fantastic job."

Ibrahimovic also pointed out that their bid to win a second successive title had been severely handicapped by the unusually high amount of injuries Milan have suffered this season.

"We have been having 14-15 players out constantly," he said. "We should be happy that we have 30 players. Imagine if we hadn’t had all these players: who would then have played? We’ve really had it tough. We’ve had all these injuries. It shouldn’t happen in a club like Milan."

Ibrahimovic's goals against Inter on Sunday took his league tally for the season to 28 goals, but the Sweden striker admitted that his terrific return had the shine taken off it by his failure to collect a league winners' medal for the first time in eight years.

"I’m not used to not winning anything," he admitted. "And I don't know what’s best: doing a great job and winning nothing; or playing terribly and winning."

Ibrahimovic has netted 35 times in all competitions this season so far.