Ibrahimovic karate kicks

Ibrahimovic karate kicks his critics but PSG floored by glut of injuries

Zlatan Ibrahimovic has long cultivated the image that he does not care what other people think about him. That the opinion that counts is his own.

However, the Swede has been clearly rattled by the criticism he has received during what has been a poor season by his incredibly high standards. The dissatisfaction of his own supporters hurt the most, as evidenced by his already infamous outburst after last month's 1-0 win over Rennes at the Parc des Princes, during which the hosts were repeatedly jeered by the home crowd.

"We do not understand what people want," the attacker fumed afterwards. "Whether we win or lose, people whistle. Maybe they are in the habit of eating caviar before they come to see us."

Ibra subsequently took his frustration out on the press, ripping two hapless reporters to shreds in the mixed zone, as well as ordering his team-mates not to speak to the press after the Coupe de la Ligue.

On Saturday, though, Zlatan did his talking on the field. After opening the scoring in a 2-2 draw with Caen at the Parc des Princes in characteristically spectacular and dexterous fashion, the striker slowly and deliberately removed his jersey and defiantly bared his tattooed chest to the crowd. A booking was inevitable but the Swede did not care.

This was about sending a message. To the media. To Chelsea. But most of all, to PSG's fans. This was a show of strength, both physical and mental, from football's self-styled 'man of steel'.



He has had his injury issues this season, with a heel problem proving particularly disruptive, but Ibra was clearly determined to show all observers that he is now in peak condition; perfectly primed to take on all-comers.

PSG will certainly need Ibra, their self-proclaimed "boss", in good shape because the same cannot be said of the rest of Laurent Blanc's squad after a particularly costly outing - both in terms of injuries and Ligue 1 points.

Midfielder Yohan Cabaye and right-back Serge Aurier combined wonderfully well to create the opening goal for Ibra but both were later forced off and most likely out of Tuesday's Champions League first-leg clash with Chelsea.

Third-choice centre-half Marquinhos is unlikely to have featured against the Blues but his half-time withdrawal further reduced PSG's options at the back. However, the most significant loss was that of Lucas Moura, who hobbled off with just under 10 minutes remaining.

With Blanc having made a tactical change midway through the second half by replacing Blaise Matuidi with Gregory van der Wiel, Aurier's subsequent withdrawal had left PSG with just 10 players on the field. Lucas limping off saw PSG reduced to nine.

The French champions still looked set to claim a victory that would have seen them displace Olympique Lyonnais at the top of the table but in-form Caen, who had arrived at the Parc des Princes on a four-game winning run, snatched a most unlikely point with two goals in the dying minutes, through Emiliano Sala and Herve Bazile.

Blanc was understandably shell-shocked at the full-time whistle, with his players having seen both their Ligue 1 and Champions League hopes rocked on one desperately unfortunate afternoon.

"We have four players wounded today who will certainly be absent against Chelsea," the coach shrugged after the game.

"It's a scenario that is very hard to accept. Psychologically it will have an effect. Today we had a lot of bad luck."

In that sense, things could not have gone any better for Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho. Yes, Ibrahimovic appears to have got his groove back and nobody knows better than the Portuguese that the Malmo native is capable of great things when fit and in the right frame of mind.

However, Zlatan is not 'Superman' and he will not be able to beat Chelsea all on his own. Even though it now feels like he might have to.