An interaction with Ibrahimovic is never complete till he is asked about his stunner against England in 2013.
"Actually, the English media will only consider you great player once you score against their side. Now I am a good player since I scored against them," the sarcasm was not lost on anyone.
Great teams need great players but icing on the cake is when a great player turns out to be a great character.
So when one asks him about how different he finds his current coach Laurent Blanc's style is from former Barcelona coach Pep Guardiola, one would find the Swedish legend giving an answer that seems subtle but one can read between the lines.
Ibrahimovic seemed happy that coach Blanc has got a
two-year extension with the club.
"I don't know the terms of his contract though," the 34-year-old wryly added.
"Everybody will miss Mourinho a little bit. I think he will get a club soon. Coaches do have a tough life. If a team plays badly, it is the coach who gets sacked."
PSG enjoys 20 plus point cushion in Ligue 1, which has become lopsided, due to the gulf in standard between them and other French clubs. But Zlatan thinks one can't let the intensity lessen as they train their eyes firmly on the Champions League.
"It is important for everybody from players to coaches to win every title (including Ligue 1). The objective of playing is very important. Similarly Champions League has been a long-term project. The progress that PSG has made in the last 3-4 years is amazing."
"Something big will happen. Day by day the excitement will increase - what will happen," he said as he burst into laughter.
So is 'China calling', Zlatan kept his card close to his chest.
"You never know," he would say.
You’ve reached your limit of {{free_limit}} free articles this month.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
Already subscribed? Log in
Subscribe to read the full story →
Smart Quarterly
₹900
3 Months
₹300/Month
Smart Essential
₹2,700
1 Year
₹225/Month
Super Saver
₹3,900
2 Years
₹162/Month
Renews automatically, cancel anytime
Here’s what’s included in our digital subscription plans
Exclusive premium stories online
Over 30 premium stories daily, handpicked by our editors


Complimentary Access to The New York Times
News, Games, Cooking, Audio, Wirecutter & The Athletic
Business Standard Epaper
Digital replica of our daily newspaper — with options to read, save, and share


Curated Newsletters
Insights on markets, finance, politics, tech, and more delivered to your inbox
Market Analysis & Investment Insights
In-depth market analysis & insights with access to The Smart Investor


Archives
Repository of articles and publications dating back to 1997
Ad-free Reading
Uninterrupted reading experience with no advertisements


Seamless Access Across All Devices
Access Business Standard across devices — mobile, tablet, or PC, via web or app
