Mourinho: Ligue 1 is worth watching again now Ibrahimovic has left

Jose Mourinho believes Ligue 1 is now worth watching again following Zlatan Ibrahimovic's departure from Paris Saint-Germain.

Ibrahimovic, 35, left PSG to join Mourinho at Manchester United last summer, bringing an end to his four-year trophy-laden spell in the French capital.

The striker won the Ligue 1 title in each of his four seasons in France as well as winning the Coupe de France twice and the Coupe de la Ligue three times.

Ibrahimovic scored 38 goals in 31 Ligue 1 matches last season as PSG wrapped up the league title as early as March, but the Parisians have found it difficult to cope without the Swede.

PSG are currently five points behind leaders Nice in third place, having lost four of their 19 league matches to date under Unai Emery's stewardship.

But Mourinho believes PSG's struggles have made Ligue 1 more “interesting” to neutrals, claiming “there was no league” when Ibrahimovic plied his trade in Paris.

In an interview with SFR Sport , Mourinho said: “I think people in France have to be happy that he (Ibrahimovic) left. Because now you have a league.

“With him, there was no league. It was Paris, Paris, Paris. League, Cup, League Cup, Super Cup. Everything. And now you have a league.

“Now you have a league that I watch. I am interested. Nice, (Mario) Balotelli, Monaco, my friend Leonardo (Jardim, Monaco manager) and Paris. Now I watch Ligue 1 so you have to thank him (Ibrahimovic) that he left.”

Ibrahimovic has scored 16 goals in all competitions so far this season under Mourinho's guidance at United.