Swedish star not taking North Londoners lightly
AC Milan striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic is not taking the challenge of Tottenham lightly ahead of the UEFA Champions League clash on Tuesday night.
Spurs travel to the San Siro for the second time this season to take on the Rossoneri in the first knockout round of the competition, with the return leg at White Hart Lane on 9th March.
Ibrahimovic has experience of playing a side from North London after scoring at the Emirates for Barcelona last season against Arsenal, and he believes Harry Redknapp's men will be of a similar level to the Gunners.
Tottenham lost 4-3 to Inter Milan in the group stage but beat the Nerazzurri 3-1 at home and the 29-year-old Sweden international is wary of the challenge his Milan team faces.
He said: "I think Tottenham is a big team. They're developing and they're aiming for the three or four first positions in the Premier League.
"And now they're in the Champions League and we see the investments they are doing.
"I am only positive about Tottenham. I think it's a great team with big players in the team. It will not be an easy game, it will be a very difficult game.
"Compared to Arsenal, I haven't played against Tottenham, but sure they are the same level as Arsenal."
Milan are currently three points clear at the top of Serie A but have a number of injury problems ahead of the game.
Gareth Bale has not travelled to Italy for the clash but Milan boss Massimiliano Allegri admits Spurs have threats from other areas.
He remarked: "Aaron Lennon is a very quick and intelligent player, Peter Crouch is a good player too so we will need to be careful.
"They have four solid defenders also. They are a very fit and strong, physical side."
On Bale, who scored a hat-trick against Inter, he added: "I don't think we can compare him to (Lionel) Messi or (Cristiano) Ronaldo yet but this year he did the right things.
"He is a player that any manager would like to have in his side."
Spurs travel to the San Siro for the second time this season to take on the Rossoneri in the first knockout round of the competition, with the return leg at White Hart Lane on 9th March.
Ibrahimovic has experience of playing a side from North London after scoring at the Emirates for Barcelona last season against Arsenal, and he believes Harry Redknapp's men will be of a similar level to the Gunners.
Tottenham lost 4-3 to Inter Milan in the group stage but beat the Nerazzurri 3-1 at home and the 29-year-old Sweden international is wary of the challenge his Milan team faces.
He said: "I think Tottenham is a big team. They're developing and they're aiming for the three or four first positions in the Premier League.
"And now they're in the Champions League and we see the investments they are doing.
"I am only positive about Tottenham. I think it's a great team with big players in the team. It will not be an easy game, it will be a very difficult game.
"Compared to Arsenal, I haven't played against Tottenham, but sure they are the same level as Arsenal."
Milan are currently three points clear at the top of Serie A but have a number of injury problems ahead of the game.
Gareth Bale has not travelled to Italy for the clash but Milan boss Massimiliano Allegri admits Spurs have threats from other areas.
He remarked: "Aaron Lennon is a very quick and intelligent player, Peter Crouch is a good player too so we will need to be careful.
"They have four solid defenders also. They are a very fit and strong, physical side."
On Bale, who scored a hat-trick against Inter, he added: "I don't think we can compare him to (Lionel) Messi or (Cristiano) Ronaldo yet but this year he did the right things.
"He is a player that any manager would like to have in his side."
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