Laurent Blanc: He Owes It to Zlatan!

Share This Article:
Laurent Blanc: He Owes It to Zlatan!

PSG Bounces Back with League Cup Win Over Saint-Étienne Thanks to Ibrahimovic

After a humbling 4–2 loss to Bastia in Ligue 1 last weekend, Paris Saint-Germain responded well last night by defeating Saint-Étienne in the Coupe de la Ligue quarter-finals. The Parisians booked their spot in the semi-finals thanks to a decisive goal from Zlatan Ibrahimovic, who continues to make headlines both on and off the pitch.

Ibrahimovic’s goal brought relief to under-pressure coach Laurent Blanc, who was facing heavy criticism after the Bastia collapse. “We qualified with a lot of quality,” said Blanc post-match. “Despite all the talk after the disastrous second half against Bastia, I believed we could respond — and we did.”

Blanc emphasized the improved team spirit and performance:

“We played well over both halves. That’s the PSG standard. When we falter, people talk — that’s the pressure of this club.”

The win was particularly meaningful after recent events involving Ibrahimovic, whose house was reportedly targeted by an explosive device in Sweden — though no injuries were reported and the damage appeared minimal.


Other Coupe de la Ligue Results and Fixtures

Already Qualified for the Semi-Finals:

  • PSG (1–0 vs Saint-Étienne)

  • Bastia (3–1 vs Rennes)

Remaining Quarter-Finals Today:

  • Monaco vs Guingamp (17:00 CET)

  • Lille vs Nantes (21:00 CET)

The draw for the semi-finals will follow once the final two fixtures are completed.