Sad Jose: It's battle for Ziat

JOSE MOURINHO fears Zlatan Ibrahimovic is facing a “really hard” battle to save his career. The 35-year-old Swede

(right) suffered a knee injury against Anderlecht in the Europa League last week.

And speaking after the 2-0 win at Burnley, Manchester United boss Mourinho said: “No player deserves to be injured but I think in this case it’s even more sad because Zlatan, in

this stage of his career, it’s really, really hard.”

Full details of the striker’s injury emerged last night.

As well as snapping his cruciate ligaments, Ibrahimovic has torn the meniscus in his knee.

And according to a source close to Mourinho, the fear at United is that he will never play again.

Mourinho, who has also lost defender Marcos Rojo for the rest of the season to a serious knee injury, said: “Everyone is very sad. We were thinking about them. They have to be strong.”

Discussing Ibrahimovic’s hopes of making a comeback Ben Dinnery, founder and CEO of Premier League Injuries Ltd, said: “Recovery from this type of injury will typically take between 9-12 months, probably closer to a year, and ordinarily it wouldn’t be career threatening.

“Surgery success rates are good. But given Zlatan is now 35-years-old it’s unlikely he’ll play again at the highest level.”

Changes

Anthony Martial and Wayne Rooney stepped up in Ibrahimovic’s absence, bagging the goals at Turf Moor that have set up a mouth-watering Manchester derby at the Etihad on Thursday.

But despite the chance to move above City into fourth place, Mourinho revealed he will ring the changes, with City and Swansea to come, before the first leg of their Europa League semi-final against Celta Vigo next week.

He said: “I will rotate players again, give rest to some players again and let’s see what we can do.

“Of course it’s important for us to play in the Champions League but this club wants trophies.

“We have a 25 per cent chance to win the Europa League and have to put everything we can into it.” Match report in pullout