Zlatan Ibrahimovic explains why he became a guest host at the Sanremo Music Festival. ‘It’s the challenge, the adrenaline. Failure is not the opposite of success, it is part of success. Doing nothing is the biggest failure.’
The Milan striker caused a great deal of controversy for his decision to spend the week guest-hosting at the festival during the season, while others wondered why he felt the need to take the role at all.
He had been playing up to his ‘arrogant bad guy’ persona throughout the week, joking that it was his festival and took control of it, but when he gave this monologue on the final night, it was hailed as a wonderful message.
“Everyone knew Zlatan before this festival, so why did Zlatan come here? Because he likes challenges, adrenaline. If you don’t challenge yourself, you cannot win.
“I played 945 games in my career, and I won many of them, but not all. I won 11 titles, but I also lost a few. I won many trophies, but I also lost some.
“I am Zlatan even without winning every game. I am Zlatan when I win and when I lose. I scored many goals, but I also missed a few. Very few.
“Failure is not the opposite of success, it is part of success. Doing nothing is the biggest failure of all. If Zlatan can make a mistake, so can you, the important thing is to make a difference every day: effort, dedication, perseverance, concentration.
“I am at this festival to tell all of you that in your own small way, you can be Zlatan. Thank you to Italy, my second home.”