Man United claims League Cup

LONDON — Six months into their first seasons at Manchester United, Jose Mourinho and Zlatan Ibrahimovic have collected their first winners’ medals.

Just how long this partnership of serial winners endures at United remains uncertain.

There’s little doubt Mourinho wants Ibrahimovic to commit to staying at United into next season, especially after the 35-year-old striker’s double clinched the League Cup with a 3-2 win over Southampton on Sunday.

But Mourinho hopes the supporters will take direct action to convince the Swede to sign the contract extension the club has offered.

Especially after seeing the veteran take his United tally to 26 goals while younger captain Wayne Rooney was relegated to a non-playing role on the bench at Wembley Stadium.

Rooney reaffirmed his future to United last week, rather than moving to China before its deadline-day on Tuesday, but it is a commitment from Ibrahimovic that the club is keener to hear.

Ibrahimovic’s first goal in the first final of the season came in the 18th minute, direct from a free kick. Jesse Lingard doubled United’s advantage in the 38th minute to add to his Wembley goals in the FA Cup final and Community Shield in 2016.

But United threw away its advantage as Manolo Gabbiadini scored either side of halftime to draw Southampton level in its pursuit of a first major trophy since beating United in the 1976 FA Cup final.

The game was heading into extra time but Ibrahimovic had other ideas, meeting Ander Herrera’s cross with a bullet header in the 87th minute.