Zlatan Ibrahimovic: Pep Guardiola cost us the Champions League title in 2010

Barcelona´s coach Pep Guardiola (L) and Swedish forward Zlatan Ibrahimovic (R) react during their Spanish League football match against Getafe on February 6, 2010 at Camp Nou stadium in Barcelona
Pep Guardiola and Zlatan Ibrahimovic

Zlatan Ibrahimovic made a dig at former Barcelona coach Pep Guardiola, stating that his tactical approach in the Champions League semi-final against Inter Milan had cost Barcelona the title.

The Catalan giants were the defending European champions, and to strengthen their team in the attacking quarters, they had signed the Swedish striker. He replaced Samuel Eto’o who went the other way to Inter Milan.

In spite of winning the La Liga title, Barcelona weren’t able to win the Champions League title under Pep Guardiola.

The Catalan club lost to Jose Mourinho’s Inter Milan in the semi final stage and Ibrahimovic blamed the current Bayern Munich manager for the failure.

Guardiola cost us the title: Ibrahimovic

Ibrahimovic said in an interview: “We had the best team in the world, for sure.

“But we failed to win the Champions League because of bad decisions from someone.”

He further added: “But it's like that. It's nothing to complain about today. You have to forget it because I had great moments at Barcelona.”

Earlier too, he had also openly criticized Guardiola in his autobiography titled ‘I am Zlatan’, in which he had called Guardiola “a spineless coward”.

Ibrahimovic has represented and won domestic titles when he represented Inter Milan, AC Milan, Juventus, Barcelona, Ajax and presently Paris Saint-German. But he is yet to lift the coveted Chamipons League trophy in his 15-year career.

“I'd be very happy if I could win it, of course," he said.

“After your career, you look at how many trophies you have. If I win, it'd be great, if not, it wouldn't be a failure,”

Ibrahimovic wants PSG to improve Champions League record

Paris Saint-Germain, the current French Ligue 1 champions, where the 32-year-old currently plays, has been building a team capable of locking horns with European bigwigs.

“We're still learning. The club are new in the Champions League and we gain experience," he mentioned about his team.

“This team has been constructed in the last two years and we've been in the Champions League quarter-finals twice. We want to go further this year.”

PSG play Barcelona on Tuesday at the Parc des Princes as the French side looks to put its 1-1 draw with Ajax behind them and get their first win in Europe this campaign.

Quick Links

Edited by Staff Editor