Why PSG world star is the real ‘fraud’ ahead of crunch Chelsea meeting
Zlatan Ibrahimovic will divide opinion no matter how many league titles across Europe he has won.
Though he’s been at the forefront of European football for much of the last decade, the Swede is yet to wholly convince he is truly top quality.
Much of that is down to his perceived failure to impact games in the latter stages of the Champions League, despite the fact he has played in great teams with great players.
Perhaps it is largely an English based perception of the marksman, due to the fact he’s at times struggled to ‘do it’ against opposition in these isles.
That’s an unfair assessment and one that is often levelled at Lionel Messi, arguably the greatest to have ever grace the professional game.
Still, the recent social media war that has erupted between PSG and Chelsea ahead of the Champions League last-16 clash between the two brings up a good point.
The Parisians labelled Blues forward Diego Costa a ‘fraud’ in a tongue-in-cheek video posted on Twitter ahead of tonight’s clash at Stamford Bridge.
However, that may have been a tad ironic considering the fact Ibrahimovic is undoubtedly the focal point of their side.
Labelling him a ‘fraud’ may be a touch too radical, though the former Inter Milan and Barcelona ace does, at times, flatter to deceive.
In 37 Champions League knockout games across his glittering career, the Swedish legend has been able to notch just 8 goals.
That’s despite the fact he has had the likes of Lionel Messi, Wesley Sneijder and Pavel Nedved providing him service at a number of different clubs.
In light of the record breaking stats set by Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo, Ibrahimovic pales in comparison. Even Luis Suarez, Robert Lewandowski and Neymar have had bigger impacts than him in Europe’s top competition during much shorter timeframes.
Teams who win the Champions League are usually a cohesive unit. It seems rather odd that such a prestigious competition, packed to the rafters with top level talent, can be won largely down to team spirit.
Fragmented Liverpool, Chelsea and Real Madrid sides have all lifted the continent’s top prize due to it, despite there being better sides technically.
His individuality is much celebrated and part of what makes him such a star. However, his tendency not to get involved in a high team press, or to drift deep and out wide when the going gets tough can seriously impact the teams he dazzles otherwise in.
Even Cristiano Ronaldo acted like the first line of defence when Real Madrid trounced Bayern Munich in 2014. Well, at times anyway.
Clearly, we cannot blame Ibrahimovic for the failings of his teammates throughout his career. However, the astronomical levels of self-belief that make him such a big star in other competitions have not proved as useful a tool in the Champions League.
So, is Costa really the fraud after all?
Is Zlat really all that? Not at Champions League level.
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