Ibrahimovic calls on PSG to take 'the next step'

Star Swedish striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic has challenged his club Paris Saint Germain's (PSG) teammates to seek inspiration from his show-stopping performance in their 4-2 aggregate against Chelsea in the Champions League football and move to the next level.

Ibrahimovic scored the winning goal in PSG's 2-1 win in the second leg here on Wednesday. They also won the first leg 2-1.

"Today we did well, but let's see what happens in the quarter-finals," he said after the French club's 2-1 second leg triumph on Wednesday. "If we do well there, then it looks good."

The Sweden captain believes Laurent Blanc's men have to spread their wings on the European stage if they are to achieve broader status. "We are progressing, we are getting better and better," he added. "The team is young and has not played together so long in comparison to other sides.

"In France we are doing the maximum we can do but the Champions League is the next step for us. Today we did great, but can we repeat the good things we did against Chelsea? If we can then things are looking good."

With a goal and an assist at the Stamford Bridge ground to add to the free-kick he converted in Paris, Ibrahimovic could feel well satisfied with his work over the two games.

No more can the English newspapers claim that at the very highest level, when the challenge is at its most intense, Zlatan goes absent.

"I feel good, but without my teammates it would not have been possible," he said of his towering display.