Zlatan in ‘Special One’s’ good books
MANCHESTER United manager Jose Mourinho is looking forward to working with Zlatan Ibrahimovic again next season after declaring the striker’s contract extension will be a formality.
Ibrahimovic, 35, arrived from Paris Saint-Germain in July on a one-year deal with an option for a further year, which Mourinho in November indicated United would look to take up.
After Zlatan Ibrahimovic scored once and made two goals in United’s 3-1 Boxing Day win over Sunderland, Mourinho said that the clause had not been activated yet, but would be.
Ibrahimovic’s goal against Sunderland means that he has scored 50 times across all competitions for club and country during 2016, the year he retired from international football with Sweden.
“I am not really surprised because he is a very intelligent guy and a very proud man,” said Mourinho.
“He decided to come to Manchester United and to the Premier League, to a club with the level of expectation of Manchester United, in the most difficult league in the world for a striker.
“When he decides to come here, it is because he knows he can do it.”
Ibrahimovic set up Daley Blind to put United ahead in the 39th minute and then ran through to score from Paul Pogba’s pass before setting up Henrikh Mkhitaryan for a spectacular ‘scorpion kick’ volley.
United secured a fourth successive Premier League win, and extended their unbeaten record in all competitions to 11 matches, in the absence of captain Wayne Rooney.
The United captain was withdrawn from the squad after suffering a thigh muscle injury in training.
Mourinho said the England captain was a doubt for United’s home match against Middlesbrough on New Year’s Eve.
Sunderland manager David Moyes suffered defeat on his first return to Old Trafford since United sacked him in April 2014.
Moyes, whose team remain in the Premier League relegation zone, said he enjoyed his return, despite the publicity that surrounded him in the days before the fixture.
“I knew that some day I would come up against the Manchester United players or work with some of them,” said the Scot, whose team replied through Fabio Borini’s longrange effort.
“I think that’s what happens when you’re in football. I enjoyed coming back.”
From chasing titles at Old Trafford, Moyes now finds himself locked in a relegation tussle with Sunderland, who lie two points from safety.
“We are going to have to try to galvanise from within,” said the former Preston North End, Everton and Real Sociedad manager.
“It is not a situation I am necessarily used to, but some of the players are used to it here.
“I hope together we can find a way of being good enough and strong enough in the games that really matter.” — AFP