Paris Saint Germain vs Dynamo Kyiv preview - Ibrahimovic plays down PSG's chances
Posted Tuesday, September 18, 2012 by PA
Zlatan Ibrahimovic has tried to temper expectations surrounding Paris St Germain's return to the Champions League - and urged fans to look at Manchester City's struggles last season as proof of the difficulties posed by Europe's elite club competition.
After an eight-year absence PSG rejoin the continent's big guns as they open their Group A campaign at home to Dynamo Kiev at the Parc des Princes.
Following the arrival of the Qatar Investment Authority as controlling shareholders, PSG have been among the biggest spenders in Europe with the likes of Ibrahimovic, Thiago Silva, Javier Pastore and Ezequiel Lavezzi all signed in big-money deals.
Their recruitment drive has inevitably drawn comparisons with that of Premier League champions City, who are also under Middle Eastern ownership.
City were fancied to challenge for the Champions League crown 12 months ago but crashed out at the group stage, and Ibrahimovic is eager to avoid a repeat scenario.
The Sweden striker told L'Equipe: "I want to win the Champions League but let's take things game by game, step by step.
"When City were knocked out in the group stage last year, no-one said they were not a good team. They simply lacked the experience of this competition.
"This lack of experience also affects PSG, but it does not prevent us from believing in ourselves.
"To be Ligue 1 champions is the main thing (this season). PSG haven't won the Championship for a long time (since 1994). We must first start by winning this trophy as City did.
"This year, we'll do our best in the Champions League, but we have to face good teams and there are players in our team who have never played in this competition."
Ibrahimovic has always been a player to divide opinion but the former Ajax, Inter Milan, Barcelona and AC Milan star insists the critics merely motivate him.
"People talk about what they want," he said. "They judge me without even knowing me."
"The more rubbish they write the better because it gives me more energy and adrenaline to do better on the pitch.
"I am not trying to be perfect, I don't like the idea of perfection. In my opinion nobody is perfect."
Dynamo will fancy their chances of escaping from a group which also includes Dinamo Zagreb and Porto.
They finished second in last season's Ukrainian league and arrive in Paris in confident mood.
Striker Ideye Brown told the club's official website: "We are able to get into the knockout stages.
"We have some difficult rivals in the group phase but if we come together, listen to the coach and play as a unit, we can get through."
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