PSG's Ibrahimovic, Cavani and Di Maria do not scare me, says Manchester City defender Eliaquim Mangala

The Champions League quarter-final first-leg takes place on Wednesday night

Manchester City defender Eliaquim Mangala (Getty)

Eliaquim Mangala has insisted Manchester City have nothing to fear from Paris Saint-Germain by claiming the French champions’ potent strike-force does not ‘scare’ him.

Mangala, who became the world’s most expensive defender when signing for City in a £42m deal from Porto in 2014, is set to partner Nicolas Otamendi at centre-half in Wednesday's Champions League quarter-final first-leg with captain Vincent Kompany sidelined with a calf injury.

And although PSG’s front line of Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Edinson Cavani and Angel di Maria have helped Laurent Blanc’s team score 81 goals in 32 Ligue 1 games so far this season, Mangala believe City can shackle the Parisiens’ forwards.

“I respect PSG,” Mangala said. “I respect Zlatan, Cavani and Di Maria, but I am not scared about them.

“Everyone knows Zlatan and the magnificent career and season he has had, even though he is 34 he is in top condition at the moment.

“He has been criticised a lot because he has not been decisive in the Champions League in the past.


 PSG's talismanic striker, Zlatan Ibrahimovic (Getty)
 (Getty Images)

“But he has been in the last few games. He is reaching the peak of his career now, but we are not just focusing on him.

“We played on Saturday so I think most of the players have recovered well and this kind of game, this is very important to be ready mentally.

“Everyone is motivated, the physical aspect plays a big part but we need to be smart in our game and mentally we are ready to play.”

City face PSG with both teams attempting to reach the Champions League semi-finals for the first time.

And although City approach the game have been unconvincing domestically this season, Mangala insists it is time to prove their ability to overcome the best teams.

“It’s true that in some of the big games we have had difficulties,” Mangala said. “We have had many injuries so we have had to cope with the players we have had available.

“We must prove tomorrow we are more than 11 players in the pitch, and next week it will be very important to show we can compete against the big teams.

“If we look at what PSG did on the European scene they are a bit ahead of us, this is our first Champions League quarter-final, so maybe they are a bit ahead.

“But everyone has their own style, their project is to go as far as possible and one day win it, we have the same ambitions or do even better so it’s up to us for compete with what they have done.”