Zlatan
Ibrahimovic left Stamford Bridge last year under a cloud after his
sending-off almost cost Paris St Germain their place in the Champions
League.
He
walked out of Chelsea's stadium a hero on Wednesday, however, after
scoring one goal and setting up another as the French champions knocked
their English counterparts out of the Champions League 4-2 on aggregate.
The
34-year-old Swedish striker, who also scored in the first leg in Paris,
gave Chelsea's defence the slip in the 16th minute to provide a cross
for Adrian Rabiot to open the scoring.
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| Zlatan Ibrahimovic celebrates after putting PSG 2-1 up against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge on Wednesday |
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| The 34-year-old said after the game 'I was born old but I feel young' as PSG reached the quarter-finals |
Then,
in the 67th minute, with the scores level at 1-1 and PSG ahead 3-2 on
aggregate, Ibrahimovic volleyed home from a cross by Angel di Maria to
kill off a Chelsea fightback and put PSG's place in the quarter finals
beyond doubt.
'I was born old but I feel young. I get younger as I go on and I am very happy young man tonight,' he said.
'It is a
very different feeling to last year. This is not revenge, it is success,
a very sweet success against a very tough opponent.'
PSG
coach Laurent Blanc said Ibrahimovic had been performing well in the
French League this season but he had not managed to quieten his critics
until now.
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| Ibrahimovic slammed home a second-half winner after Angel di Maria's pinpoint cross found him in space |
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| PSG players celebrate with the Swedish star after knocking Chelsea out for the second year in a row |
'You
guys always had your doubts because he was playing in Ligue 1, you
asked if he was able to give a performance like that in the Champions
League,' Blanc said.
'He gave us his answer tonight.'
'It
won't necessarily give him confidence because he has enormous
self-confidence, but he scored the decisive goal and made another and
this performance will do him good,' Blanc said.
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| Laurent Blanc said Ibrahimovic had been performing well in Ligue 1 despite the opinions of his critics |
'We will get the benefit of that, me as coach, the players and the club.'
Defeated
Chelsea coach Guus Hiddink paid tribute to Ibrahimovic too, saying his
physical and mental strength as well as his tactical sense meant the
striker would be in demand if PSG do not renew his contract at the end
of this season.
'He's not the youngest but even at his age, for a footballer he's doing well,' Hiddink said.
'He can adapt himself with his personality to any league in the world.'
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| Chelsea coach Guus Hiddink paid tribute to Ibrahimovic who proved the difference between the two sides |
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