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Come Fan with UsTuesday, August 4, 2026

Zlatan Ibrahimovic blames tactics for PSG loss; Laurent Blanc blames poor finishing

They won’t be working together anymore.

Alex Livesey/Getty Images

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Paris Saint-Germain were bounced out of the Champions League again on Tuesday, meaning Zlatan Ibrahimovic is likely to finish his career with the club without progressing past the quarterfinals. He didn’t directly blame coach Laurent Blanc, but not so subtly criticized his decision to change tactics.

“In the first half we played with a new system and what happened, happened. If it had gone well, nobody would say anything, and now people will say we gave it away. The second half was better, when we reverted to our normal tactics, but we gave away two games.”

Guess why Blanc thinks his team lost?

“We weren’t clinical both this evening and in Paris. We scored two goals in Paris, we had the chances to score more, we should have done and didn’t.”

These are two people who know they will not be co-workers anymore starting in a month.

Goal of the day

This glorious awful goal from Middlesbrough, who might make £100 million off it.

In the news

Here’s the PFA player of the year shortlist, featuring three Leicester players. (BBC)

Here’s a real actual footballer comparing the pressure of real actual football to playing your bros in FIFA 16. (Guardian)

Good news: Darlington Nagbe didn’t tear any ligaments or break any bones. (MLS)

Aston Villa have made the extremely good decision to not have an end of the season awards party. (Telegraph)

Cristiano Ronaldo is one goal from matching his own Champions League goals record. (AS)

You should be reading

Aaron Gordon on what MLS is doing to improve officiating. (Vice)

John Duerden on Leicester City’s booming fan base in Thailand. (The Set Pieces)

Michael Cox on what Koke means to Atlético Madrid. (ESPN FC)

What happened on Tuesday

Poor Wolfsburg got blown up by Cristiano Ronaldo.

Kevin De Bruyne fired Manchester City into the Champions League semifinals.

What to watch on Wednesday (click for listings, all times ET)

FA Cup: West Ham vs. Manchester United (2 p.m.) -- This could be the end for Louis van Gaal.

Champions League: Two games (2:45 p.m.) -- Bayern won’t have a problem with Benfica. Watch Barca-Atléti.

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