Smalling: Zlat’s the way to do it
ZLATAN IBRAHIMOVIC has never settled for second best in his long and distinguished career. And that will to win is spreading to his teammates at Manchester United.
That is the view of Chris Smalling, who has to try to stop Ibrahimovic on a daily basis in training.
The super Swede bagged a hattrick last Thursday night against St Etienne to all but secure United’s passage through to the next round of the Europa League.
It’s now 23 goals in all competitions in his debut year at Old Trafford – and it’s the 10th consecutive season in which he has managed at least 20 to underline that enduring class.
Zlatan is used to winning things and with him leading the line, United are still going strong in three cups as well as chasing a top-four spot in the Premier League.
And facing him every day gives Smalling that extra spring in his step to have Ibrahimovic on his side in matches.
“You can definitely sense his winning mentality in the dressingroom,” says the defender.
“You sense it with the manager, too. They are both winners. Jose doesn’t like to see a bad training session.
“When you can bring that into your squad, it’s about keeping those standards. Having that calibre of player and manager can make all the difference. You can see it now.
“I always like to test myself against the best. Zlatan is someone who never likes to lose so I quite like it when I’m not in his team because I know we can have a nice battle.
“He trains how he plays and that feeds off everyone else. If he wins, he likes to rub it in and if we win, we like to rub it in, so it’s good for the team.
“I think he’s the best centreforward around. There are not many players who tick as many boxes as he does. I’m very lucky I don’t have to play against him in a game.
“He can be a target man, but he likes to drop in whereas a lot of target men don’t like to do that.
“It is that unpredictability with him and you never know what you are going to get.”