Zlatan, Cesc in Paris bust up
Cesc Fabregas and Zlatan Ibrahimovic were involved in a heated exchange following Chelsea’s defeat by Paris Saint-Germain.
|||Cesc Fabregas and Zlatan Ibrahimovic were involved in a heated exchange following Chelsea’s defeat by Paris Saint-Germain on Tuesday night.
The fracas happened as Fabregas was leaving the Parc des Princes after their Champions League last-16 tie, which ended 2-1 to PSG.
It is believed the Chelsea squad were unhappy with what Ibrahimovic said to players on the pitch and Fabregas demanded an explanation. The Sweden star initially ignored Fabregas, before responding to the 28-year-old Spain midfielder.
Ibrahimovic also exchanged words with other Chelsea players, before seeking out British media in the mixed zone to reveal that he is open to a move to the Barclays Premier League this summer.
Susana Guasch, a Spanish pitchside reporter who was covering the match for TV station Antena 3, said on Twitter: ‘Run-in between Ibra and Cesc on leaving the stadium. He said: “you spoke too much today”. Fabregas asked him for explanations.
‘But Ibra pretended not to hear. And they took Cesc away so that it did not escalate any further.’
It is understood that Fabregas (right with Ibrahimovic) was not pulled away by Chelsea officials and the players simply went their separate ways. Ibrahimovic scored the opening goal for PSG as they won to take a first-leg advantage to Stamford Bridge in three weeks.
Meanwhile, Roy Keane has launched a withering attack on Chelsea midfielder Eden Hazard, claiming he would ‘kick him up and down the training pitch’ if they were team-mates.
Hazard told Le Parisien this week that it would be difficult to turn down a move to Paris Saint- Germain. But the timing of that interview stunned Keane.
‘I can’t understand these players,’ the former Manchester United captain said on ITV’s Champions League highlights show.
‘He signed a five-year extension only last year, when we saw how brilliant he was, and then he’s coming out with all that nonsense on the eve of a big game. If I was a team-mate of his I would kick him up and down the training pitch. Some of the senior players have got to get hold of him. He’s a talented boy, but his attitude is like a spoiled child. It was absolutely ridiculous.’
Glenn Hoddle, a former Chelsea player and manager, said: ‘If he wants to go to a club that wins the league by 30 points each year, he’s not testing himself. That’s what disappoints me.
‘He’s got to knuckle down and play well for Chelsea, that’s who’s paying his money now.
‘He’s a top player. Last year he was exquisite and probably won the league in the first half of last season for Chelsea, but he’s nowhere near that level now.’ – Daily Mail