l against Chelsea on Tuesday, and two strikes and two assists against Reims on Saturday, Zlatan Ibrahimovic has enjoyed another week in which he has shone. At 34 years old, the Swede, who was criticised at the start of the season as not at his physical peak, has completely turned the corner to play some of the best football of his Paris Saint-Germain career.
It is great news for Laurent Blanc, who has never ceased to support his star figure, as the club approaches the critical time of the season.
“Ibrahimovic is in stunning form,” he coach said after Reims. “Let’s hope he can stay like this because we’ve got some big dates ahead.”
Proof that the star is in full possession of his physical means, he gave everything against Reims on Saturday. The former Milan striker touched the ball 86 times, including a great number when he strayed from his role as central attacker to dictate the play of his side. It is a habit he has when he is feeling good.
This proved a boon to Edinson Cavani, who profited from the movement of his team-mate to replace him in the centre. It’s a situation that has not been seen for many weeks. Between an altruistic Ibrahimovic and a determined Cavani, the visiting defence had a great deal of difficulty. Their task was made all the more difficult with the Uruguayan working in tandem with the Malmo-born striker, and happens best when the two men are in form.
“We’ve been analysing this for two-and-a-half years,” Blanc said. “We continue to analyse it, when he does not score for four or five matches, like at the start of the season, it’s a disaster.
“At the moment, he is working crazily, training very seriously, and it is paying. We have also been preserving him.”
Ibra, meanwhile, does not refute his boss’ words. “I am good, really good,” he said. “I’m doing my work very well at the moment. That’s all there is to say.”
He has been involved in 33 goals in Ligue 1 this season, 23 strikes and 10 assists – 14 more than any other player at this level. Additionally, he is the fourth player to reach double figures in both these categories in France, and the fourth in Europe behind Luis Suarez, Lionel Messi and Lorenzo Insigne.
With 98 goals and 35 decisive passes in 9480 minutes of play in Ligue 1 since he signed, he has been decisive once every 71 minutes.
Such figures are a strong reminder that the Swede is out of contract in June. If Blanc has vowed that there will be further news on the player’s future in the weeks to come, the question once again is whether there will be a fresh deal on the table after his weekend display.
“You’re hard to please,” was all Blanc had to say on the matter.
Thiago Silva has shown a little more emotion on the matter, as he said: “He’s still an incredible player. He must continue to do this until the end of the season and we’ll see what happens. My opinion is that he can prolong his stay, but it’s the coach and the president who must decide.
“Maybe he’ll leave if we win the Champions League!”
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