There are some out there who look at the cult of personality that Zlatan has manufactured around himself and want absolutely nothing to do with it. The real preening peacock of the football world makes Cristiano Ronaldo look like a shy, retiring schoolboy. For many, the PSG striker is an ego around which a football career has been haphazardly tacked on.
'He never performs on the big occasions' was the go-to phrase from RTÉ's panel whenever it was time to address the big Swede in the Champions League. However, as his ego has enlarged, so has his propensity to dispel the doubters. It's his talent which ensures he can get away with stunts like interviewing himself on social media and we're absolutely delighted that's the case because European football would be a lot more boring without him.
Ahead of tonight's clash against Man City, Zlatan (via his Facebook and Instagram accounts) has delivered unto the world Zlatan meets Zlatan and Zlatan really comes out of it rather well.
Essentially it's all a lead up to the Joe Hart punchline at the end and we're absolutely delighted about that.
Q: Tonight, it’s time for Champions League as you receive Manchester City at home on Parc des Princes. The other day you got a perfect warm-up by winning 4-1 over league-third Nice, a match where you performed a hat trick. What are your thoughts about the quarterfinal?
Zlatan: An important and difficult match.
Q: Manchester City eliminated Dynamo Kiev in the previous round, and for the first time in club history they get to play quarterfinals in the Champions League. What do you think of the light-blue team from Manchester?
Zlatan: It’s a very good team.
Q: City is, just as PSG, a world class team packed with stars. Which City players would have made the PSG starting lineup?
Zlatan: They have a good team, and we have a good team.
Q: The keeper for Manchester City is Englishman Joe Hart, a player who has conceded beautiful Zlatan goals before. How about adding to his misery tonight?
Zlatan: Let’s see what happens.
Q: Tonight, it’s time for Champions League as you receive Manchester City at home on Parc des Princes. The other day you...
Posted by Zlatan Ibrahimovic on Wednesday, April 6, 2016
Say what you will about his ego but the man is one in a million.