PSG wouldn’t be where they are without me, says Zlatan Ibrahimovic

Paris Saint-Germain are the favourites to win the 2021/22 Champions League, but it has been a long road to this point for the capital city club. When purchased by Qatar Sports Investments in 2011, PSG were just fourth in the table, yet they have improved year on year and the 2012 signing of Zlatan Ibrahimovic was a key factor in the club’s rise.

In the view of Ibrahimovic himself, his presence and 156 goals for the club laid the foundation for the superstar team of today.

“When PSG were bought out, I was one of the first to be signed,” the Swede said in an interview with Telefoot, as per Get French Football News. “I’m very proud. Without me, PSG wouldn’t have become what it is now. Some people think I came for the money, the city, the life. No, I came and everything changed. Since I’ve been gone, what do you talk about? Nothing? It must be boring to work in France now.”

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Ibrahimovic’s views on the current PSG team

Even though he has been playing outside of France since 2016, Ibrahimovic still follows PSG’s matches and shared some of his thoughts on the current side, led by Mauricio Pochettino.

He said: “Is today’s team better than the one in my era? No, we were a team. These days, it’s not a team.”

Going on to explain his view further, the forward stated: “I love Kylian Mbappé, but he isn’t doing enough. He can become very strong if he hurts himself. He needs to taste blood and walk on fire. Surround yourself with people who tell you you’re not good enough and you will become the best. It’s a good challenge for Lionel Messi. He will try something new after a long period at Barcelona and he’s going to a very ambitious club that wants to win and is rising.”