Strange things happen to Zlatan Ibrahimovic around this time of year. If he doesn't go missing in front of goal, he loses his head. In fact, the Swede lost more than his temper in getting sent off for a sly thump in the face of Napoli's Salvatore Aronica on Sunday.
He missed the chance to keep pace with Udinese's Antonio Di Natale at the top of Serie A's goalscoring charts. He lost the chance to help AC Milan win the match in the last quarter, when, at 0-0, they were suddenly obliged to manage with 10 men.
Ibrahimovic, though available for last night's Coppa Italia meeting with Juventus, has picked up a three-match ban in Serie A as a result, which if Milan's appeal fails, means he misses the league game with Juventus at the end of this month. That is potentially very damaging to Milan's defence of their scudetto.
Last season, Ibrahimovic waited until March to see red and get himself banned for a key stage of the season. His form had already begun to tail off significantly.
The season before, while at Barcelona, he started to feel grumpy in February, and got himself a red card in March. This pattern only invites the idea, widely held outside Serie A, that the Swede does not take pressure, which increases towards spring, very well.
As a young man, Ibrahimovic had a rebellious streak. At 30, he no longer has immaturity of years as an alibi.
Milan are beginning to shrug at the inevitable fact that their best player becomes, for about two months a year, a liability.
How to watch Ireland v Pakistan in UAE
When: The one-off Test starts on Friday, May 11
What time: Each day’s play is scheduled to start at 2pm UAE time.
TV: The match will be broadcast on OSN Sports Cricket HD. Subscribers to the channel can also stream the action live on OSN Play.
NO OTHER LAND
Director: Basel Adra, Yuval Abraham, Rachel Szor, Hamdan Ballal
Stars: Basel Adra, Yuval Abraham
Rating: 3.5/5
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Skewed figures
In the village of Mevagissey in southwest England the housing stock has doubled in the last century while the number of residents is half the historic high. The village's Neighbourhood Development Plan states that 26% of homes are holiday retreats. Prices are high, averaging around £300,000, £50,000 more than the Cornish average of £250,000. The local average wage is £15,458.
The White Lotus: Season three
Creator: Mike White
Starring: Walton Goggins, Jason Isaacs, Natasha Rothwell
Rating: 4.5/5
The specs: 2018 Nissan 370Z Nismo
The specs: 2018 Nissan 370Z Nismo
Price, base / as tested: Dh182,178
Engine: 3.7-litre V6
Power: 350hp @ 7,400rpm
Torque: 374Nm @ 5,200rpm
Transmission: Seven-speed automatic
Fuel consumption, combined: 10.5L / 100km
