Zlatan On Why He Stopped Kicking Players

 

Zlatan Ibrahimovic was well known for not shying away from a fight on the football pitch, but he has now revealed why he has stopped kicking opposition players.

He previously received bans for punching a player in the stomach, slapping the opposition, stamping on an opponent and kicking a player in the chest, but has calmed down recently.

“I don’t get so upset now. They key is to focus on what you have to do in the game, not what’s being said,” he told FourFourTwo.

“One other thing to remember is that you have a responsibility to the team not to react. If you think that’s part of your job to stay calm, that can help.”

The Paris Saint-Germain star also revealed that he has received a lot of abuse on the pitch due to his mixed nationality.

“Some defenders try to put you off, physically and verbally. Some have said things about my family – they call me a gypsy,” he added.

“My mother is from Croatia; my father, Bosnia. I was born in Sweden and felt 100 percent Swedish, but that did not matter to them.”

Ibrahimovic received his last red card two years ago and has since only made the headlines for his impressive performances or controversial interviews.

He will have another chance to shine when his side face Chelsea in the Champions League last-16 return leg at Stamford Bridge - where PSG enter the game on the back of a 1-1 draw in Paris.

Do you think Zlatan Ibrahimovic has gone soft in recent years? Have your say in the comments section below.