The Courier & Advertiser (Perth and Perthshire Edition)
Zlatan Ibrahimovic lifts the EFL Cup at Wembley yesterday after scoring twice in Manchester United’s 3-2 victory over Southampton.
EFL CUP: Swedish striker scores twice to add 32nd trophy to his collection
Zlatan Ibrahimovic believes winning trophies gets better with age after firing Manchester United to success in the EFL Cup final.
The 35-year-old striker scored twice in the 3-2 victory over Southampton – including a late winner – to give United manager Jose Mourinho his first trophy since taking over at Old Trafford.
“It was nice, it was very nice,” the former Sweden internationalist told Sky Sports.
“This is a team effort, this is not about an individual. This is collective.
“This is what I came for, I came to win and I’m winning so I just have to keep going because the more I win, the more satisfied I get.
“I think you appreciate it more the older you get, in the beginning you don’t realise what the trophy means. The older I got, the more mature I got, the more I understood it’s all about winning, it’s all about collecting these trophies. I think this was my 32nd trophy and I’m super happy.”
United looked on course for a straightforward victory at Wembley following Ibrahimovic’s free-kick and a strike from Jesse Lingard, but goals either side of half-time from Manolo Gabbiadini drew Saints level.
Ibrahimovic then grabbed the winner three minutes from time as Mourinho lifted the trophy for a record-equalling fourth time as a manager, joining Brian Clough and Sir Alex Ferguson.
The Portuguese boss admitted Southampton were superior for much of the final and praised Ibrahimovic for making the difference.
“I think he (Ibrahimovic) won the game for us because he was outstanding,” Mourinho said.
“In a match where our opponents were better than us for long periods of the game, they deserved to go to extratime, they did not deserve to lose over 90 minutes. He made the difference and he gave us a cup.
“I want to pay the homage Southampton deserve and the only thing I can say is we have the cup in our hands but probably we should be now playing extra-time.”
Saints manager Claude Puel felt Gabbiadini had a perfectly good goal disallowed for offside when the game was goalless and believes his side’s performance merited more.
“The first goal of Gabbiadini, it was a good goal and he scored three good goals this afternoon,” Puel said. “I think it should have stood.”
The Frenchman added: “It’s a lot of disappointment of course. We played a very good game and I hope we can continue on this level.
“I’m proud of my players because we played very well, with many chances.
“I think perhaps we deserved better – it’s football and congratulations for Manchester, for Mourinho, for his players.”