AC Milan striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic has no regrets barging into Chelsea captain Cesar Azpilicueta.

The 40-year-old sent Azpilicueta flying after slamming his shoulder into the back of the defender in the closing stages of Sweden's 1-0 defeat against Spain in the World Cup qualifier on Sunday.

"The other day in the national team, I gave a tackle to [Cesar Azpilicueta]. I did it on purpose," Ibrahimovic told the Guardian.

"I'm not ashamed to say it because he did something stupid to my player. Acting big to my player.

"It was a stupid thing but I would still do it to make him understand: 'You don't f***ing do that. You don't have b***s to do it against me. But I will show you what happens if you do it to me'. That's why I did it."

Typically, Ibrahimovic was not afraid of any retribution coming his way. Asked whether Azpilicueta approached him after the final whistle, he replied: "He will not say it to me but he will say it to my player – who will do nothing because he's too nice.

"It was not a good thing by me, but I would still do it. That's me. I'm not ashamed to say it."