Mourinho believes United can ‘win every match’ remaining

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MANCHESTER UNITED striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic could make his first Premier League start since April when they visit Leicester City today, manager Jose Mourinho said.

The Swede who also started in the 2-1 League Cup quarter- final defeat by Bristol City on Wednesday, has worked his way towards full fitness since returning from a serious knee ligament injury he suffered last season.

“Yes, he’s an option,” Mourinho told a news conference yesterday. “He played one hour (against Bristol), a bit more. He could be ready to start the match.

“Ninety minutes is probably too much, it depends on the match. I think he’s ready to start.”

United are second in the league with 41 points after 13 wins, two draws and three losses and Mourinho is unwilling to concede defeat in the title race with Manchester City 11 points ahead as the halfway stage of the season approaches.

Peerless City are on a record 16-game unbeaten run and have swatted aside all challengers including United, who they beat 2-1 at Old Trafford this month.

“We are in a race that only ends for us in May against Watford at Old Trafford, when we finish the game it is finished. Then do we have an FA Cup final or Champions League final to play? We have one more game, then it’s finished.

“We can win every match,” Mourinho added.

Eighth-placed Leicester have collected 20 points from their last 10 games and are a rejuvenated side under Claude Puel, who took charge from Craig Shakespeare in October.

“They are in a comfortable position, no fears, no dramas. Can they fight to reach an Europa League position? Yes they can,” Mourinho said.

● Manchester City captain Vincent Kompany faces a fitness test ahead of today's game against Bournemouth, although the defender is more likely to be ready for the Christmas fixtures, manager Pep Guardiola said.

Kompany pulled up injured in City’s 2-1 victory over Manchester United on December 10 and missed their next league games against bottom side Swansea and Tottenham Hotspur.

Guardiola, however, suggested the Belgian’s injury was not as serious as feared.

“In the next days he will be ready,” Guardiola said. “I don’t know when, maybe tomorrow. I will have to see after the next training session.”

Kompany’s fellow defender John Stones is closing in on a comeback from a hamstring injury that has kept him out of the last six league matches but the return of the senior defensive duo will not alter Guardiola’s January transfer plans.

City have four senior centre backs in Stones, Kompany, Nicolas Otamendi and Eliaquim Mangala and the manager had earlier indicated he could be in the market for a defender as part of his long-term strategy.

“We are going to try. I don’t know if we’ll be able to because the transfer market is really different in the summer time. I have never spoken about players. It depends, of course, on the price. We will see.”

Teenager Phil Foden faces a spell on the sidelines after injuring ankle ligaments. The 17-year-old played a part in City’s 4-3 shootout win at Leicester following a 1-1 draw after extra time in midweek.

Bournemouth have their own injury issues ahead of the trip to the Etihad Stadium, with manager Eddie Howe confirming that striker Jermain Defoe (ankle) and defender Charlie Daniels (tendon problem) will miss the game.

City’s 2-1 victory over Bournemouth in August was the first of their 16-game winning streak but Howe believes his 16th-placed team can end the leaders’ record-breaking run.

“We’ve always looked at the bigger challenges as being better for us,” Howe said. “The underdog tag suits us. We don’t have too much pressure on us and can go and be ourselves without the burden of the expectancy in terms of getting a result.” – Reuters