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PSG v Chelsea: 'I will never play in England,' reveals Zlatan Ibrahimovic

Swede's last European club will be the Ligue 1 leaders PSG

Wednesday 02 April 2014 19:07 BST

Zlatan Ibrahimovic talks to reporters today ahead of the Champions league match with Chelsea tomorrow (GETTY IMAGES)

A major loss for the Premier League.

The mercurial Swede, Zlatan Ibrahimovic, has ruled out ever playing in England. The colourful Paris Saint-Germain striker will face Chelsea at Parc des Princes tomorrow night, and says that it would be "impossible" for him to ever play in England, as the last European club he will play for will be the Ligue 1 leaders.

"To come to England today is not a question," the 32-year-old said today. "It's impossible to get me to England. Ask the people behind this [PSG] project; I don't think they would let me go."

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Ibrahimovic says that he could have moved to England before he left Milan in 2012, but claims that he will have no regrets when his career is finished that he never played in the English top-flight.

"When I went to Milan there were some talks with English clubs but it was not in the picture.

"I will not look back and say I should have played in England. I am happy. I respect the Premier League; it’s a great competition with many big teams and big individual players."

"But I haven't been part of it. My stories have been elsewhere. I have no regrets."

PSG v Chelsea: 10 key factors that could decide the Champions League quarter-final first leg

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1/10PSG v Chelsea: 10 key factors that could decide the Champions League quarter-final first leg

PSG v Chelsea: 10 key factors that could decide the Champions League quarter-final first leg

Parc des Princes is a fortress

PSG have lost just one of their last 38 home games in all competitions - a run stretching back to November 17, 2012. Their only defeat during that period was in the French Cup, against Montpellier in January. Chelsea, by contrast, were beaten by Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park on Saturday and have won just one of their last six on the road.

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PSG v Chelsea: 10 key factors that could decide the Champions League quarter-final first leg

PSG are in form

Laurent Blanc’s side should go into Wednesday’s game full of confidence. They have won their last nine games and are unbeaten in 13. The French champions were impressive in the last round too, beating Bayer Leverkusen 6-1 on aggregate.

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PSG v Chelsea: 10 key factors that could decide the Champions League quarter-final first leg

Chelsea don’t concede many in Europe

The Blues have kept clean sheets in five of their last seven games in the Champions League - conceding only twice during that period. Jose Mourinho was full of his defence after Saturday’s defeat at Crystal Palace, stating: “They perform every game from day one to [the] last day.”

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PSG v Chelsea: 10 key factors that could decide the Champions League quarter-final first leg

Mourinho has done it before

Unlike Blanc, the Portuguese has lifted the Champions League twice already - with Porto in 2004 and as Inter Milan manager six years later. Mourinho came close to European success in his first spell as Chelsea manager, twice reaching the semi-finals before losing to Liverpool on both occasions. If the Blues were to go all the way this year, Mourinho would become only the second man in history, after Bob Paisley, to win three European Cups.

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PSG v Chelsea: 10 key factors that could decide the Champions League quarter-final first leg

And so have Chelsea

Who can forget that win against Bayern Munich in the 2012 final? Unlike Wednesday’s hosts, Chelsea have plenty of experience when it comes to progressing far in the Champions League - reaching at least the semi-final stage on five occasions in the last 10 years is testament to that.

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PSG v Chelsea: 10 key factors that could decide the Champions League quarter-final first leg

Zlatan has been prolific

Ibrahimovic has been in red-hot form all season and has scored more goals in all competitions (40) than Fernando Torres, Samuel Eto’o, Demba Ba and Andre Schurrle put together (32).

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PSG v Chelsea: 10 key factors that could decide the Champions League quarter-final first leg

But he is not the only danger

The Swede may be PSG’s top scorer this season, but fellow forwards Edinson Cavani and Ezequiel Lavezzi have weighed in with 30 goals in all competitions too. Mourinho’s side should know all about the threat of Cavani and Lavezzi - the pair impressed during their time together at Napoli and both scored in a 3-1 win against Chelsea in February 2012.

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PSG v Chelsea: 10 key factors that could decide the Champions League quarter-final first leg

Chelsea struggle in France

The Stamford Bridge side have not won in their last four visits across the Channel. Chelsea were beaten by Marseille in 2000 and 2010, and Monaco in 2004. In fact, the only time they haven’t lost in France since the turn of the century was in 2008, when Nicolas Anelka scored in a 1-1 draw against Bordeaux.

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PSG v Chelsea: 10 key factors that could decide the Champions League quarter-final first leg

But Mourinho doesn’t

The Chelsea manager has an impressive record against French clubs - losing only one of the 15 games he has taken charge of. That defeat came over a decade ago too, a 1-0 Uefa Cup defeat at Lens while in charge of Porto.

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PSG v Chelsea: 10 key factors that could decide the Champions League quarter-final first leg

PSG can afford to prioritise the Champions League

Blanc’s side have taken control of Ligue 1 again this season and are 13 points clear with seven games to play. That surely won’t be overhauled, meaning Blanc’s side can make European success their main focus now. Chelsea, meanwhile, are very much still in the Premier League title race, despite what their manager may say, and their game against Stoke at the weekend carries more importance than PSG’s fixture against Reims.

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"The biggest possibility to win the Champions League is with Paris," he added.

"This is my last contract in Europe and to win it I must win with Paris.

"The day I leave Paris is the day I go down a level or quit football. I have a contract until 2016."

But it could have been so different, of course. Ibrahimovic was invited for a trial at Arsenal aged 16. He didn't join after allegedly telling Arsene Wenger that he: "doesn't do trials".

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