Give Red Devil Ibra his due, says Jose

JOSE MOURINHO believes Zlatan Ibrahimovic is a contender to be named Footballer of the Year.

The Manchester United boss (below) reckons the 35-year-old Sweden striker is getting better with age, having first worked with Zlatan at Inter Milan almost a decade ago.

And Mourinho feels that his 24-goal talisman should be in the frame for individual accolades as well as team trophies.

Asked whether Ibrahimovic has been one of the players of the season, the United manager said: “I think he has made an amazing achievement, so ‘yes’.

“He is better than at Inter. He is better because he understands the game more but has the same levels of ambition. In fact, it is even more.

“For Zlatan it doesn’t make sense to play football at this level without ambition and motivation.

“He also has the notion that he is an important guy for the young boys in the team.

“He’s very close to all the young boys, trying to help, trying to teach.

“So I get him in this period of his career – and I enjoy it even more than before.”

United will try to take up the option to extend Ibrahimovic’s stay by a further season.

The striker is happy in Manchester, but a key to the negotiations will be whether they can qualify for the Champions League through winning the Europa League or via a top-four finish.

Mourinho insists lifting the EFL Cup will represent a successful season – even though Louis van Gaal was sacked last year just days after winning the FA Cup. He said: “It is so difficult to win trophies in England – even the League Cup.

“There are so many sharks trying to win in this country, so winning a trophy is always a positive.

“But we have so many other targets as well. Our season does not end with the Southampton game.

“If we bring a cup home, it is success, but then we start to go for the Premier League.”