‘I would still do it again’ -Zlatan Ibrahimovic slams “stupid” Chelsea’s Cesar Azpilicueta as he explains his brutal shoulder charge

 ‘I would still do it again’ -Zlatan Ibrahimovic slams “stupid” Chelsea’s Cesar Azpilicueta as he explains his brutal shoulder charge

Zlatan Ibrahimovic admitted intentionally knocking out Cesar Azpilicueta in a World Cup qualifier last week and said he would do it again.

After slamming his shoulder into the back of Azpilicueta in the closing stages of Sweden’s 1-0 loss to Spain in a World Cup qualifier on Sunday, the 40-year-old sent the Chelsea captain flying.

As a corner was being swung into the box, Ibrahimovic smashed Spain’s right back, knocking him down.

Ibrahimovic explained to  The Guardian that the brutal shoulder charge was entirely intentional and intended to put the Chelsea defender in his place for ‘acting big’ against a Sweden player earlier in the game.

“The other day in the national team, I gave a tackle to [Cesar Azpilicueta]. I did it on purpose,” he said. 

“I’m not ashamed to say it because he did something stupid to my player. Acting big to my player. 

“It was a stupid thing but I would still do it to make him understand: “You don’t f***ing do that. You don’t have balls to do it against me. But I will show you what happens if you do it to me.” That’s why I did it.”

Typical of Ibrahimovic, he was unconcerned about retaliation. When asked if Azpilicueta approached him after the final whistle, he said, “He will not say it to me, but he will say it to my player, who will do nothing because he’s too nice.”

“It was not a good thing by me, but I would still do it. That’s me. I’m not ashamed to say it.”

Ibrahimovic avoided a red card, but he will miss Sweden’s play-off semi-final in March due to an off-camera booking.

The former Manchester United striker, on the other hand, insisted the suspension had no effect on him.

“It’s not about missing the play-offs. It’s about making the guy understand you don’t take the p**s out of somebody laying [on the ground],” he continued.

“You don’t attack a dog that doesn’t talk. Attack the one able to do something. It’s too easy to pick on my teammates who are 20 years old and very nice guys. I hope he understands now.”

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 ‘I would still do it again’ -Zlatan Ibrahimovic slams “stupid” Chelsea’s Cesar Azpilicueta as he explains his brutal shoulder charge