The pair worked together in the French capital, winning the Ligue 1 title, and the 5-time Champions League winner believes his former charge has continental glory in his sights
Former Paris Saint-Germain coach Carlo Ancelotti says the Champions League is a ‘special competition’ for Zlatan Ibrahimovic and believes that the talismanic striker would like to win it before he decides to call time on his career at the top.
Ibrahimovic scored in each leg as PSG eliminated 2012 champions Chelsea in the last-16 and, despite winning league titles in four countries during the course of a glittering career, has not yet laid his hands on Europe’s top prize.
The Swedish icon is out of contract at Parc des Princes this summer and Ancelotti says that the Champions League trophy is the one that Ibra would love to add to his collection.
“For Ibra the Champions League is a special competition,” Ancelotti told Goal. “He has won a lot of championship titles in his career but not the Champions League, and maybe before the end of his career he would like to win it.”
Goal columnist Ancelotti coached Ibrahimovic and his PSG team-mates to the French Ligue 1 title during the 2012-13 season and the Parisians have gone on to win four league crowns in a row, but Ancelotti states that the ultimate ambition of the club’s Qatari owners is to win the Champions League.
“The objective of Paris Saint-Germain is to one day win the Champions League,” he said. “I think that now they are thinking about becoming competitive in the Champions League.”
“Last year they reached the quarter final. This year I think they want to be in the first four positions of the Champions League. Step by step, you can reach to win the trophy.”
“But to win the Champions League is not so easy. A club has to want to be competitive in the Champions League and that means being in the first four positions in the competition.”
To aid their quest for European dominance, PSG have spent big in recent seasons with last summer’s landmark signing from Manchester United, Angel Di Maria, excelling in both legs against Chelsea.
Ancelotti coached Di Maria during Real Madrid’s historic la Decima season and believes the Argentinian makes PSG a more formidable team.
“Di Maria brings energy, power and experience to this team,” he said. “He can help the team to be better compared to last season.”
- Goal