PSG Say Merci to Legend Ibrahimovic

Paris St-Germain striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic has indicated he will leave the French champions this summer. The 34-year-old's contract expires at the end of the season.

On Friday, Ibrahimovic - who has been linked with a move to LA Galaxy - posted on social media: "My last game tomorrow at Parc des Princes. I came like a king, left like a legend."

PSG host Nantes on Saturday, before ending their season by facing Marseille in the French Cup final on 21 May.

Shortly after his tweet, the club posted an image of their top scorer this season along with the message "merci Zlatan."

Ibrahimovic, who will captain Sweden at the European Championship this summer, joined PSG from AC Milan for a reported £15.7m in 2012.

He has since scored 152 goals in 178 appearances for PSG and was top scorer in Ligue 1 in 2012-13 and 2013-14.

The former Barcelona striker is the top goalscorer in France again this season - 15 ahead of Lyon's Alexandre Lacazette.

PSG won the Ligue 1 title with two months to spare and are 28 points clear with one game remaining.

Manchester United have been linked with a move for Ibrahimovic, who has won league titles with six different clubs.

Related articles

• Zlatan Ibrahimovic can succeed in England - Sweden boss Hamren
• Ibrahimovic can stay at top for several years - Hamren
• Tottenham boss Mauricio Pochettino: PSG return would be a 'dream'
• Ibrahimovic could thrive in Premier League, says Sweden coach
• Tottenham Boss Pochettino Open to Paris Saint Germain Move
• PSG train ahead of Man City Champions League tie

No Blancs for Zlatan at Etihad

Zlatan

Laurent Blanc has warned Manchester City that Zlatan Ibrahimovic is determined to end their Champions League campaign at the Etihad Stadium.

Ibrahimovic is the chief obstacle standing in City’s way as they attempt to reach the Champions League semi-finals at the expense of Paris Saint-Germain.

The Sweden striker had a mixed night in the first leg of their quarter-final in France last week, scoring and hitting the bar but also missing a penalty and spurning another good chance in the 2-2 draw.

Ibrahimovic, 34, has had a fine season, scoring 30 goals in Ligue 1 for the runaway champions. He is out of contract at the end of the season and has been linked with a move to England, most recently with City’s rivals Manchester United.

Blanc expects him to be at his sharpest at the Etihad Stadium. He said: “We’re always a bit surprised when Zlatan misses a chance but when you’re a top goalscorer like him, you can miss a couple. Unfortunately for us he missed them in that game. He still scored, though, and he’s someone who is extremely demanding of himself.

“He wants to show something else tomorrow [Tuesday], he wants to be more clinical in front of goal. If we create as many chances as the first leg, I think his conversion rate will be a lot higher.”

PSG showed plenty of attacking impetus at the Parc des Princes as they recovered from a goal down to take the lead and, when Ibrahimovic hit the woodwork, it seemed they would win convincingly.

But both sides were prone to errors and Fernandinho pounced on one from PSG to equalise and keep the tie alive.

Blanc, who could have the midfielder Marco Verratti back after almost eight weeks out with a groin injury, knows improvements are necessary. He said: “We’ve analysed the first game and looked at the errors we made. There was too wide a gap between players, we were not compact enough and opened too much space for City.

“When you think of the players they’ve got, particularly going forward, they can create problems for a lot of teams, not just us. We need to perform at the highest possible level, a higher level than the first game.

“PSG are capable of qualifying but we know how difficult it will be. I would still like us to create as many chances as we created last week because I am pretty sure we would score a fair few more.”

Also hoping to make an impression will be Ángel Di María, on his first return to Manchester since his unhappy spell at United last season. United signed the former Real Madrid winger for a club-record £59.7m in 2014 but he was allowed to leave to join PSG last summer.

Blanc said: “I don’t think Ángel has anything to prove. He’s going to be under pressure, like we all will. He joined us to bring his experience in the competition – he has won the Champions League.”

Di María himself hopes PSG can get back to their best. The Argentinian told the club’s website, www.psg.fr: “We need to play the way we know how – control the ball, attack and take the chances that come our way. That’s how we’ve won our matches up until this point. It’s our style.”

Related articles

• Manchester City transfer report: Pep Guardiola targets £39m deal for Athletic Bilbao starlet
• Manchester City boosted by return of Fabian Delph and Nicolas Otamendi
• Champions League: Man City makes history, Atletico wins in dramatic PKs
• Man City midfielder Fabian Delph eyes role in top four battle
• Match Report: Manchester City 0-1 Manchester United
• Dutch football legend, Johan Cruyff dies of cancer aged 68

Paris Saint German v Manchester City - Preview

PSG meet Manchester City

Manchester City goalkeeper Joe Hart is fit to play against Paris St-Germain in Wednesday's Champions League quarter-final first leg.

England international Hart, 28, has been out since injuring a calf in the 1-0 Premier League defeat by Manchester United on 20 March.

He took part in training on Tuesday before travelling to Paris.

"Hart has had medical and physical tests and has no problems to play," said manager Manuel Pellegrini.

City are in the Champions League quarter-finals for the first time and face a team that has reached this stage of the competition in four successive seasons.

Pellegrini is not planning to take a cautious approach.

"We are not coming to Paris to draw 0-0. We'll play our usual way," he added. "Both teams have a chance to continue to the next stage and that chance is 50-50 for each team."

PSG boss Laurent Blanc does not believe his side are favourites to progress to the last four, but says City are "behind" the French champions in Europe.

"Manchester City had the same project a bit before Paris St-Germain," said the former Manchester United defender.

"They managed to win their domestic league, which is not an easy task, and some other titles, but maybe in Europe maybe they're a bit behind us."

Blanc suggested the Premier League's intensity has hampered the ability of English sides to pose a stronger challenge for European trophies.

Only Manchester United (2011) and Chelsea (2012 and 2014) have reached the semi-finals of the Champions League since 2010.

"Maybe England is more competitive but I don't see many English teams in the semi-finals of the European competitions over the last five or six years," said Blanc.

"Maybe they have reached a further level in terms of fatigue. You need to find a right balance. There are problems in every domestic league."

City midfielder Yaya Toure will miss the game with a heel injury, while forward Raheem Sterling is sidelined by a groin problem.

PSG's former Manchester United forward Angel di Maria is available after being rested for Saturday's 4-1 win over Nice.

Laurent Blanc

I have excellent memories of Manchester from when I was playing for Manchester United. We used to drive by the City training ground on the way to ours, but I think it's no longer there.

The city itself has transformed a lot. It used to be very post-industrial, but it has flourished into quite a charming place now. On the sporting front, City are reducing their deficit to United and becoming a great club again – let's not forget they were strong in the 1970s.

They say experience can make the difference in ties such as this and that every detail counts. After the draw, some were relieved and said it was a good one for us as we avoided the two giants, Barcelona and Bayern. I strongly warned my players not to listen to that. Those who say that don't understand anything about football.

We'll be up against a team with quality and quality in depth – their squad overall has much more quality than ours. These will be two difficult and delicate games.

Manuel Pellegrini, City manager

It'll be difficult but I believe we have a chance. Paris are a very good team, with a project similar to Manchester City in a sense, trying to grow year by year. Both teams have an opportunity to push on. I don't think there's a clear favourite in this tie.

It was important this season for us to win our group for the first time, and then we won in the round of 16 for the first time. We will see what happens against Paris.

Joe Hart has worked without any problem for the last few days and we tested him today. There's always a risk when a player returns from injury, but I don't think there's a problem with him playing.

Paris now hold a 25-point lead over second-placed Monaco (the record is 17) and Ibrahimović, on 30 league goals, has twice as many as anyone else in the division this term.

City returned to form and remain in the Premier League's top four after a quick start against a team they had last visited 16 years ago in England's third tier. Fernando opened his goal account for the campaign and, back from injury, Kevin De Bruyne volleyed in his first goal since 26 December.

Related articles

• Manchester City Can Handle PSG Believes Citizens Midfielder
• Liverpool - Over The Wall
• Manchester City trigger release clause for Manchester United target Aymeric Laporte - reports
• Official PFA Facebook page for Robin van Persie sees huge growth as Premier League fever spreads.
• Man Utd Next Boss: 10 Replacements For Louis Van Gaal
• Man United expect to sign Feyenoord striker Tahith Chong - source

Zlatan Adds Nice Hat-Trick

Nice hat-trick for Zlatan 

Zlatan Ibrahimovic scored a hat-trick as Paris Saint-Germain geared up for their Champions League clash against Manchester City with a 4-1 Ligue 1 home win over Nice on Saturday. Ibrahimovic scored twice in the first half and once in the second, while David Luiz added a third in the second half after Hatem Ben Arfa had pulled one back for the visitors early on.

PSG, who were crowned champions last month, have 80 points and with six games left lead second-placed Monaco, who lost 2-1 at home to Bordeaux on Friday, by 25 points. Nice, who had a chance to reduce the gap with Monaco to two points, lag in third place five points behind. They will be leapfrogged by Lyon if they beat Lorient away on Sunday.

At the Parc des Princes, there was a minute of applause when the face of the former Holland great Johan Cruyff, who died last week, appeared on the giant screen. Having lost and drawn their past two league games, anything other than a win would have damaged PSG’s confidence before they take on City in their Champions League quarter-final first leg on Wednesday.

Ibrahimovic opened the scoring in the 15th minute with a powerful cross shot after being set up by David Luiz. Ben Arfa, who hopes to make it into France coach Didier Deschamps’s 23-man squad for Euro 2016, responded with a superb curling shot that went past Kevin Trapp.

The Sweden striker Ibrahimovic put Laurent Blanc’s side ahead again with a free-kick into the top corner in the 34th minute. David Luiz gave PSG a two-goal lead three minutes into the second half with a downward header from a corner.

Ibrahimovic wrapped it up eight minutes from time from close range by latching on to Adrien Rabiot’s cross for his 30th league goal in the season, equalling his tally from the 2012-13 season. The last player to score more than 30 goals in a French top-flight season was Argentina’s Carlos Bianchi for Stade de Reims in 1975-76, with 34.

Related articles

• Newcastle United earn a superb away win four years ago on the way to a 5th place finish
• Tactical Analysis: PSG 2-1 Chelsea | Movement of PSG midfield decisive as Lucas and Di Maria prove influential
• Man United alerted as defensive star demands PSG exit
• Barcelona draws but extends lead; while Juventus stays top
• Liverpool star Daniel Sturridge a shock £45m target for PSG with Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Edinson Cavani likely to leave the club
• Paris Saint-Germain Takes the Early Edge in Champions League

Premier League Interest - Zlatan

Zlatan Ibrahimovic says Premier League clubs are interested in signing him from French champions Paris St-Germain.

The 34-year-old, who is out of contract in the summer, has been linked with Manchester United, Chelsea and Arsenal.

"There has been interest and we will see where it leads," he said. "But it would have to be like a marriage, both sides have to want it as much."

Ibrahimovic has won league titles in four European countries.

After helping Ajax win two Dutch titles at the start of the century, he won two Serie A championships with Juventus - both later revoked because of the Calciopoli scandal - and three more with Inter Milan.

He then moved to Spain and claimed the La Liga title with Barcelona before returning to Italy to win the 2010-11 Serie A with AC Milan - his eighth successive league title.

After a season without silverware at Milan in 2011-12, Ibrahimovic moved to PSG, and the French side have won the past four Ligue 1 titles.

After scoring four goals in a 9-0 thrashing of Troyes earlier this month to seal this year's title, Ibrahimovic said: "For the moment, I will not be at PSG next season. I still have a month and a half left here.

"If they replace the Eiffel Tower with a statue of me, then I will stay."

Ibrahimovic has scored 62 international goals in 111 appearances, including a sensational 30-yard overhead bicycle kick in a 4-2 friendly win over England in 2012.

Related articles

• Man Utd linked with a mega money double transfer for Brazilian pair (footylatest.com)
• Manchester United's Juan Mata would welcome Zlatan Ibrahimovic deal (espnfc.com)
• Great bolts of lightning: Striking images from around the world, in pictures (telegraph.co.uk)
• [VIDEO] - World cities honour Brussels victims (deredactie.be)
• Football Transfer Rumors: Arsenal to Snag Milan's Carlos Bacca if Alexis Sanchez Exits This Summer (chinatopix.com)
• Manchester United midfielder Juan Mata keen to play with Zlatan Ibrahimovic (sportsmole.co.uk)

Quotes - Zlatan Ibrahimovic

"I do not need a trophy to tell myself that I am the best." 

Zlatan Ibrahimovic

Zlatan Puts PSG Top Ligue 1

Zlatan Ibrahimovic scored twice as Paris St Germain defeated Lyon 5-1 at Parc des Princes on Sunday to move 17 points clear at the top of Ligue 1, while second-placed Angers could manage only a 1-1 draw against Bordeaux.

PSG, who are in Monday’s draw for the last 16 of the Champions League as one of the second seeds, dominated from the start against Lyon and were 2-0 up inside the first 20 minutes. Ibrahimovic scored from close range in the 11th minute and soon afterwards Serge Aurier met Ángel Di María’s free-kick to head the second.

Jordan Ferri pulled a goal back when his deflected shot from 25 yards wrong-footed the PSG goalkeeper, Kevin Trapp, but the leaders maintained the pressure in the second half.

Edinson Cavani converted a long pass from Di María, Ibrahimovic scored a penalty after being fouled and a late breakaway goal by the substitute Lucas Moura completed PSG’s 15th Ligue 1 win of the season.

Angers had looked set for defeat against Lyon as they trailed to a 40th-minute goal by Diego Rolan. However, their persistence eventually paid off with seven minutes left when Romain Thomas equalised following a corner to stretch their unbeaten run to five games.

Only goal difference separates them from Monaco, who beat 10-man St Étienne 1-0 at the Stade Louis II thanks to an 82nd-minute penalty by Fabinho after Pierre-Yves Polomat had handled. The St Étienne defender Kévin Malcuit was sent off for a second yellow card just after the hour.

In Sunday’s other Ligue 1 match, Ajaccio extended their unbeaten run to eight games with a 1-1 draw at Marseille, who had Abdelaziz Barrada sent off for a foul on John Tshibumbu. The visitors took the lead midway through the first half with a Jacques Zoua penalty but Marseille were level before the break through Michy Batshuayi.

Related articles

• PSG held to second draw in a row
• Ibrahimovic on the spot at last as PSG beat Guingamp
• Ligue 1: PSG held to second draw in a row
• Edinson Cavani Endures a Horribly Forgettable Experience in Front of Goal
• PSG continue unbeaten start to Ligue 1 season by beating Guingamp
• Cavani scores equalizer as PSG drops points at Reims
• Laurent Blanc: 'Zlatan Ibrahimovic will silence critics'

European Play-off's Drawn

France have been drawn against Ukraine in the European play-offs for the 2014 World Cup.

Portugal face Sweden, which means either Cristiano Ronaldo or Zlatan Ibrahimovic will not take part in next summer's tournament in Brazil.

Iceland, the lowest-ranked team in the play-offs, must beat Croatia to reach their first ever major tournament, while Greece meet Romania.

The two-legged ties will be played on 15 November and 19 November.

The eight nations all finished second in the qualifying groups, with 1998 World Cup winners France runners-up to current holders Spain in Group I.

"We were not seeded and could have played Portugal or Croatia who have a long history, but Ukraine is not a simple draw either," said France coach Didier Deschamps, who captained them to their 1998 triumph, told Eurosport. 

"They are on a run of seven matches without defeat and they concede very few goals as well as a long trip over there, but it's good to have the return leg at home."

Ukraine were beaten to automatic qualification by Group H rivals England.

Defender Artem Fedetskiy said: "After a poor start in the qualifying campaign every single match for us was like the final, like a do-or-die mission.

"Now we have serious experience of playing the most important matches. We are a cohesive team now and, I believe, we have fair chances to go through."

Portugal, Greece, Croatia and Ukraine were the four seeded teams in the draw which took place on Monday.

"We have been drawn against a Sweden team against whom we will be playing two complicated and relatively balanced matches," said Portugal coach Paulo Bento.

"Besides having one of the best strikers in the world (Ibrahimovic), the quality of their team is their collective spirit."

Greece coach Fernando Santos admitted he was disappointed to be playing their first match at home.

He said: "The Romanians are of great quality and dangerous and difficult opponents. I would have preferred the first match to be away."

The four teams that qualify will complete a total of 13 European nations at the tournament in Brazil.

Related articles

• World Cup playoff draw: Portugal meets Sweden, France faces Ukraine
• World Cup 2014: Cristiano Ronaldo's Portugal and Zlatan Ibrahimovic's Sweden among teams awaiting play-off draw
• World Cup 2014 European play-off qualifying draw: France v Ukraine, Portugal v Sweden
• Cristiano Ronaldo v Zlatan Ibrahimovic - European World Cup qualifying play-off draw: Portugal v Sweden, Ukraine v France, Greece v Romania, Iceland v Croatia
• Cristiano Ronaldo and Zlatan Ibrahimovic Face off for 2014 World Cup Place
• Euro 2012: Croatia or Poland?

Zlatan - England Were Very Lucky

Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Sebastian Larsson say England were lucky to escape with a win in Kiev on Friday that saw Sweden depart Euro 2012.

At one stage the Swedes led the Group D fixture 2-1 but a Theo Walcott-inspired rally secured a 3-2 win for England which propelled them into second place.

Sweden striker and captain Ibrahimovic, 30, said: "I think we were the better team against England."

Sunderland midfielder Larsson agreed: "We were definitely better."

Sweden lost their first Euro 2012 game to co-hosts Ukraine 2-1, having also taken the lead. According to Ibrahimovic, his team need to improve their performance towards the end of matches.

"We should be proud of ourselves because we played a good game [against England]," the AC Milan forward said.

"But in both the games we have played we were in the lead, but after 60 minutes we lost it all.

"Why did we lose both games? I don't know. That is something we need to analyse and see what we need to do better, or in a different way."

Larsson, 27, was even more strident in his view that his side deserved at least a point from their game against England.

"Against England it feels like we were the best team, but it isn't always the best team that wins," he remarked.

"It is about taking points, and we didn't do that.

"It doesn't really matter now we are out of the tournament, but we were definitely better than England, but they are leaving with the points, so what can you say?"

Larsson also insisted he was at fault for England's equaliser, when Walcott hit a dipping strike from the edge of the area past Sweden goalkeeper Andreas Isaksson.

"Their equaliser happens one time in a thousand. It was a shot I should have covered and it hit me and deflected past the goalkeeper.

"With the last goal [from Danny Welbeck] it's one player against four of ours, like with the goals against Ukraine, so it is things like that which decide the outcome. We have not done well enough."