
Paris Saint-Germain's Swedish forward Zlatan Ibrahimovic reacts after Lyon scored a second goal during the French L1 football match Olympique Lyonnais (OL) vs Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) on February 28, 2016, at the New Stadium in Decines-Charpieu, central-eastern France (AFP)
With his Paris Saint-Germain contract winding down, Zlatan Ibrahimovic arrives in England with a fresh speculation about his playing future.
After spells in Spain and Italy will the Swedish forward manage to squeeze in a stint in the English Premier League?
At 34, he is running out of time.
Ibrahimovic never seems to be short of admirers and is still being linked with leading clubs in his advanced footballing years.
How Wednesday's opponent, Chelsea, could have done with a sharp-shooter like Ibrahimovic this season during an alarming domestic decline.
Ibrahimovic's first-leg goal helped PSG to a 2-1 victory in the first leg of its Champions League game in the round of 16 against Chelsea last month.
It was a rarity in an otherwise prolific career: a first goal in four meetings with Chelsea. Ibrahimovic has netted only four goals in 19 games against English clubs.
The statistics show Ibrahimovic is not as lethal in the final rounds of the Champions League compared with other competitions. The former AC Milan, Ajax, Barcelona, Inter Milan and Juventus player averages 0.48 goals per group-stage match - more than double his knockout-phase ratio of 0.21.
''He's got the physique, the talent, and the experience,'' former Juventus teammate Jonathan Zebina told L'Equipe newspaper. ''For me, the explanation can only be mental. Does he put himself under too much pressure?''
There isn't as much pressure domestically where he enjoys a 0.6 goal per game ratio in the French league which PSG leads by 23 points.
PSG has won three straight French titles and is seeking the only major prize to elude the Qatari-owned club: the European Cup.
Here are other talking points going into Wednesday's game at Stamford Bridge where Ibrahimovic was sent off last season as PSG still advanced to the quarterfinals:
Chelsea challenge
Chelsea is facing PSG for the third consecutive season but advancing is far more important this time.
Languishing in 10th place in the Premier League, Chelsea's only route back into the Champions League is by winning the competition for a second time.
The cup was lifted in 2012 during the interim reign of Roberto Di Matteo and this season another stop-gap manager is chasing glory.
''We are underdogs,'' manager Guus Hiddink said. ''The players have regained confidence, but we are not the favorites.
''You see the PSG team - we also have quality - but they can rest five, six, seven players (in the league at the weekend).''
Chelsea is unbeaten in domestic competitions since Hiddink replaced the fired Jose Mourinho in December until the end of the season, with the only loss coming against PSG.
Injury concerns
Captain John Terry has missed Chelsea's last five games with a hamstring injury and he was absent from the open 15 minutes of training on Tuesday.
Striker Diego Costa did train after missing Saturday's 1-1 draw with Stoke.
''He had a little bit of a problem with a tendon,'' Hiddink said. ''He could have started, to be honest, but then the risk was there and afterwards I might be left saying, 'Why did I risk him?'''
PSG midfielders returning
Marco Verratti and Blaise Matuidi have finally been included in Laurent Blanc's squad. It's still unclear whether the two key midfielders will start in west London having just recovered from injuries.
Verrati, who has been hampered by a groin injury, has been essential in PSG's domination of the French league this season but is unlikely to start. Javier Pastore is expected to fill in for him while Matuidi is fit and expected to be given a starting role.
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