PSG lost out to Manchester City in the quarter final of the Champions League in spite of the fact that the French champions are a much better side, believes mercurial striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic.
The Parisians were viewed as the favourites to win the tie after having defeated Chelsea emphatically in the Round of 16 stage of the competition. Also, the fact that PSG have won the Ligue 1 with eight games to spare, meant that Laurent Blanc had ample chances to give his key players some rest ahead of the crucial Champions League matches.
However, they let City score two away goals in the 2-2 draw at home, and ultimately went on to lost the away tie 1-0.
Ibrahimovic believes that his side lost the match in spite of being the better side.
“I think we are a better team, but we lost here and we drew 2-2 at home, so all the best to Manchester City,” Zlatan was quoted as saying by the Daily Mirror.
The PSG striker, who has been linked with a summer move to a number of Premier League clubs, also explained why his side could not find the breakthrough in the match at the Etihad Stadium.
“In the first half we played with a new system and what happened, happened,” said Ibrahimovic. “If it had gone well, nobody would say anything, and now people will say we gave it away. The second half was better, when we reverted to our normal tactics, but we gave away two games.”
The Swede also emphasised the fact that the top teams in modern day football need to be focused on their game throughout the season, and not just play well in phase.
“Everybody was talking at the beginning of the season but when the moment is there it is there for you,” said Ibrahimovic. “The season is long. It is not about one or two months. You have to be on top for 10 months.”
Have PSG lost their best chance of winning the Champions League?
Being one of the top teams in Europe, PSG are in the running to win the Champions League every season. However, This campaign presented them with one of the best opportunities to win the competition. In the last five years, the competition has not been won by an team other than Barcelona, Chelsea, Real Madrid, and Bayern Munich — all of whom can be called continental giants in their own right.
Having won the Ligue 1 with eight games to go, PSG were in a unique position to concentrate just on the European competition, as most of their other rivals (Barcelona, Real Madrid, Bayern Munich, and Manchester City) are still fighting for their respective league titles or a top four spot. The French side will be cursing their luck at having let go of such a precious opportunity.
