ZLAT TUNES UP FOR CITY
ZLATAN Ibrahi-movic prepared for the visit of Manchester City in the Champions League with a hat-trick that left his team-mates in awe and claiming the Swede is only getting better with age.
In the morning papers, midfielder Blaise Matuidi had described him as the boss of the Paris Saint- Germain dressing room and at the Parc des Princes on Saturday evening, Ibrahimovic produced yet another masterclass of rare technical skill and brutal finishing in his side’s thrashing of Nice.
To open the scoring, Ibrahimovic displayed his finesse to control David Luiz’s pinpoint delivery on the top of his boot, before briefly steadying his balance and thrashing the ball into the far corner of the goal.
Former Newcastle forward Hatem Ben Arfa produced a glorious goal for Nice to equalise but Ibrahimovic’s virtuosity was soon back to the fore, as he rivalled Dimitri Payet for the free-kick of the weekend.
This strike was just outside the penalty area and to the right of centre. Ibrahimovic sent it searing with almost implausible force into the top corner of the goal. It took the game away from Nice in a flash. Former Chelsea defender David Luiz added PSG’s third with a smart header from a corner, before Ibrahimovic completed the scoring late on, slotting into the goal when released by Adrien Rabiot.
At the age of 34, he became the first player this season to reach 30 goals in one of Europe’s topfive leagues. That may say as much about the uncompetitive nature of the French league as Ibrahimovic’s own prowess — PSG won the title last month and this victory lifted them 25 points clear at the top.
But Luiz doesn’t doubt the Swede’s quality, telling Sports
mail: ‘This guy is brilliant. He’s an amazing player but he’s clever with it too. He is getting better with experience. He knows the positions to pick up, how to conserve energy, how to exploit defences and win games.’
Quite how Eliaquim Mangala and the Manchester City defence will contain Ibrahimovic here on Wednesday remains to be seen.
‘How do I cope in training? I kill him!’ Luiz joked. ‘ But no, we’re having an amazing season here. I’m happy with my game and with my team-mates. It was great preparation for City.’
For manager Laurent Blanc, it was as comfortable an evening as he could have wished for. With the title sewn up, he was able to rest Angel Di Maria, who had picked up a niggle with Argentina. The former Manchester United winger is expected to start against City, but playmakers Marco Verratti and Javier Pastore are likely to miss out through injury.
Edinson Cavani, meanwhile, started the game on the bench and has placed his future into doubt by admitting he is unsettled at the club. Cavani did not start home or away against Chelsea in the previous round, while Juventus, Manchester United and Arsenal have previously been keen on the forward.
‘I have had the three hardest years of my career at PSG,’ the Uruguayan told French TV show
Telefoot. ‘I will give my best for the next few months. Afterwards, I will speak with the club.’
PSG v MAN CITY: Wednesday, Parc des Princes, kick-off 7.45pm.
TV: LIVE on BT Sport Europe.