Lille goalkeeper Mickael Landreau is in awe of Zlatan Ibrahimovic after the Paris Saint-Germain star put two goals past him on Sunday.
Ibrahimovic struck twice in PSG s 2-1 win away to the 2010/11 Ligue 1 champions, leading Landreau to compare the Sweden international favourably to his predecessors at the capital city club.
He almost mocks you. In the first match against Pauleta, I conceded three. In the first game against Lisandro, I conceded three as well. Here, Ibrahimovic scored two in 21 minutes, he said.
Ibra is of the same calibre and perhaps even a little better.
Landreau said no matter how well-prepared he thinks he is, the 30-year-old striker always comes out on top.
In one-on-one situations, I felt ready and in place to stop him, but he finds the net every time, he said.
You rage because you say that next time it will improve.
Meanwhile, PSG sporting director Leonardo said he was pleased with the manner of victory on Sunday, especially given his side s poor record against Lille.
We re happy, not only with the victory, but also the way it was won, he said.
It s been 15 years since the club won at Lille.
This is the beginning of what we are imagining. It s hard to put everything in place immediately.
We made a lot of changes; the coach, 17 players. We tried to change everything, right away.
As well as Ibrahimovic, PSG have brought in Thiago Silva, Marco Verratti, Lucas Moura and Ezequiel Lavezzi in the off-season, and announced on Monday they had concluded a deal for Ajax right-back Gregory Van der Wiel.