Deep-thinking Ibrahimovic can be key man for Reds now that Lukaku takes centre stage
ZLATAN Ibrahimovic said in August this will ‘be the season of Mkhitaryan’ and he now seems intent on supplanting him.
“I see myself in that position but it is not something that is given to you,” he said of the No.10 role Mkhitaryan has occupied since August.
Ibrahimovic ‘upgraded my number’ when he switched from nine to 10 in the summer and boasted in a recent interview it ‘should be in the contract’ that he takes the number that is synonymous with Pele, Maradona and Zidane. “It will go down in history that I always had number 10,” Ibrahimovic modestly proclaimed.
The prospect of a statuesque 36-year-old striker playing behind a similarly hulking centre-forward does not appear to be conducive to a Premier League side’s strengths.
Tottenham have Harry Kane and Dele Alli or Christian Eriksen, City possess Sergio Aguero and Kevin de Bruyne or David Silva, Philippe Coutinho and Roberto Firmino combine for Liverpool and United discovered the potential of Eden Hazard and Alvaro Morata at Stamford Bridge earlier this month.
Romelu Lukaku and Ibrahimovic is about as fluid as a clogged artery compared with the Premier League’s eminent attacking partnerships.
At the start of this season Mkhitaryan was thriving behind United’s prolific new number nine Lukaku, Pogba was talismanic and their football rivalled City’s for sheer ruthless virtuosity. Without Pogba, Mkhitaryan’s form has plummeted and the goals have dried up for the Belgian striker.
Another issue is the right flank. United intended on reinforcing the left with Ivan Perisic in the summer but Internazionale’s refusal to budge has been offset by the successful rotation of Anthony Martial and Marcus Rashford on that side. On the opposite wing, United lack a ‘specialist’ Mourinho thought he had bought in Mkhitaryan, who prefers to play in the hole.
Should United revert to 4-2-3-1 against Newcastle tomorrow, the right-wing options are Jesse Lingard or Juan Mata, players better suited to central roles.
Amid interest in Perisic, Tottenham’s Danny Rose and the left-footed Gareth Bale, United need a winger to ease the workload on Antonio Valencia and Mourinho has the choice of Mkhitaryan, unidentifiable at Chelsea two weeks ago. Moving Mkhitaryan away from deep waters where he has drowned to a shallower area could provide a much-needed fillip.
An attacking line-up of Ibrahimovic, Lukaku, Mkhitaryan and Anthony Martial, supplemented by the totemic Pogba with Nemanja Matic holding, has potential against the Premier League fodder United have had little trouble in dispatching this season.
Ibrahimovic’s tendency to drop so deep he was almost inside his own half last term was problematic in that it deprived United of a figurehead, whereas now they have Lukaku to offset that concern.
Having Pogba and Ibrahimovic available for 10 games within 30 days over the gruelling Christmas period will allow Mourinho to rotate while maintaining the strength his side and maybe capitalise on City’s thin squad.