Monday 1 September 2014 11:45, UK
Paris Saint-Germain striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic was delighted to return from injury to score a hat-trick against St Etienne on Sunday.
The 32-year-old Sweden international, who scored an astonishing 41 goals in all competitions last year, limped out of PSG's 2-0 win over Bastia with a back injury a fortnight ago but returned in style with three of their goals in a 5-0 hammering this weekend.
Ibrahimovic's return was timely for coach Laurent Blanc, whose side struggled to a goalless draw at Evian in his absence.
The Swede told his club's official website www.psg.fr: "Thanks to my team-mates, we enjoyed a great evening.
"I'm back from injury, I'm not yet 100 per cent but I always try and give my maximum.
"I scored three goals, we won 5-0 and the team played very well, with a lot of confidence, so it was good."
Stephane Ruffier's inexplicable own goal put the Parisians ahead when he allowed Jeremy Clement's pass-back beyond him before Ibrahimovic added a second before the break.
The Sweden captain helped himself to a second shortly after the hour mark and Edinson Cavani added a fourth before Ibrahimovic rounded off yet another memorable night with his third to compound a miserable evening for Les Verts.
PSG sit second in the table after an unbeaten start to the season with eight points from their opening four games, two points behind early leaders Bordeaux, and Blanc was delighted with the comfortable triumph over St Etienne.
He said: "It was a very good result, it shows in the standings.
"The most important thing is to have played well in front of our supporters, with lots of chances to score.
"This week in training, we could feel the side getting stronger.
"I'm very happy with the way the team played tonight. We always see the attacking side, but I'm also very pleased with the defensive side, because we were very solid and in the big matches, that is often the difference."
