Zlatan Ibrahimovic wants Jose Mourinho to be in charge of Chelsea when his Paris Saint-Germain side face them in the Champions League in February.
The two sides meet in the last 16 of the competition, having played each other in the knockout stage of the Champions League for last two seasons.
Ibrahimovic said he was surprised at seeing his former manager in such trouble, with Chelsea sitting 16th in the Premier League, but said that would not make PSG favourites for the clash.
"To play against Chelsea is not an easy game, even if they are struggling a little bit in their own competition," Ibrahimovic said.
"We have respect for Chelsea and we do not underestimate Chelsea. They have great players and that experience from the Champions League from before and they have a good coach.
"I have to be honest, I haven't seen Mourinho in this situation where he's struggling. Normally I am used to see him battling for the first and second place, so this is something new."
Asked if Mourinho would still be in charge for the last 16 clash, Ibrahimovic said: "I don't really know how the situation is.
"I think it depends on the big boss, [Roman] Abramovich, what he wants. But I hope for Chelsea that he stays because we want to play against the best."
PSG are 17 points clear at the top of Ligue 1 while Chelsea are only one point above the relegation zone, but Ibrahimovic says the difference in form will not count.
"The game doesn't have any favourite because we played two times before, I see that both teams as equal."
The 34-year-old, who helped PSG into the quarter-finals of the French League Cup with a 1-0 win over St Etienne on Wednesday, was less clear on his own future with his contract expiring in the summer.
"In my thoughts now I don't have any destination," he said. "This is a new situation for me.
"Normally, I have a contract for years and then change club but this is something different. My contract ends and then you are free to do whatever you want, so something totally new for me."