‘ANGRY’ ZLATAN READY FOR A RETURN
MOURINHO SAYS STRIKER’S SWIFT RETURN FUELLED BY ANGER
ZLATAN Ibrahimovic is on the brink of a return for United – with Jose Mourinho revealing the Swede’s recovery is being fuelled by anger.
The veteran striker is on course to boost United’s title challenge after suffering knee ligament damage in April.
Doctors have been stunned by the 36-year-old’s reaction to treatment, with Ibrahimovic set to play again before the end of the year.
Mourinho – who is also expecting Paul Pogba, Marcos Rojo and Michael Carrick to be available imminently – has revealed Ibrahimovic’s motivation.
“He is a lion, he is a fighter,” said the United manager. “He has the anger all the time and that’s the reason why he’s almost coming back.
“He’s reduced the timing of his recovery and he will be back in 2017, which is a magnificent recovery.”
United were so encouraged by Ibrahimovic’s recuperation that they offered him an August contract extension even before a return date had been set.
Mourinho is desperate to see last season’s leading scorer back on the pitch to reduce the pressure on Romelu Lukaku. The £75m Belgian has gone seven games without a goal – but Lukaku has returned to scoring form during the international break – with three goals in two games for his country.
And Mourinho will hope he can continue that run as United host Newcastle tomorrow.
The game will see him resume rivalries with Rafa Benitez, whose Liverpool knocked Mourinho’s Chelsea out of the Champions League on their way to triumph in 2005.
“I don’t think the rivalry was with Rafael,” he said. “It was more between our clubs than between us,” he told Sky Sports.
United special: Pages 61-63