Zlatan Ibrahimovic criticizes “stupid” Chelsea captain Cesar Azpilicueta in the middle of the incident between Spain and Sweden
Zlatan Ibrahimovic says he will not regret his shoulder charge against Cesar Azpilicueta earlier this month.
Despite his age, the 40-year-old continues to play for Sweden and hoped to lead them to automatic qualification for the World Cup 2022 again, but Spain won 1-0 in their last match of winner-takes-all in Sevilla.
Still, the tension was high towards the end of the match after Ibrahimovic deliberately targeted Chelsea captain Azpilicueta after the Blues star made a comment against one of the Swede’s teammates.
The AC Milan striker then received a warning for his actions but does not regret the decision he made.
He told the guard: “The other day in the national team I gave another tackle [Azpilicueta]. I did it on purpose. I’m not ashamed to say it because he did something stupid to my player.
“To act big against my player. It was a stupid thing but I would still do it to make him understand:” You do not [explicit] do it. You do not have that [explicit] to do it against me. But I’ll show you what happens if you do that to me.
“That’s why I did it.”
Ibrahimovic did not expect any reaction from his opponent after that.
“What can he say?” he added.
“He will not say it to me but he will say it to my player – who will not do anything because he is too kind. It was not good of me, but I would do it anyway. It is me. I’m not ashamed to say that. “
The caution excludes Ibrahimovic from the first round of Sweden’s playoffs in March, but the striker is not particularly worried about it.
He claimed: “It’s not about missing the playoffs. It’s about making the guy understand that you do not take it [explicit] from someone lying [on the ground].
“You do not attack a dog that does not talk. Attack the one who can do something.
“It’s too easy to pick my teammates who are 20 years old and very nice guys. I hope he understands now.”