I am here to prove you wrong — Zlatan
MANCHESTER UNITED’S star striker, Zlatan Ibrahimovic, says he is determined to make his mark in the Premier League and prove his doubters wrong. Speaking ahead of tomorrow’s massive clash against rivals Liverpool at Old Trafford, Ibra, who was being interviewed by Arsenal legend Thierry Henry, who now works with Sky Sports, was bullish about his Premier League ambitions.
The 35-year-old Swedish striker has scored 18 goals in all competitions for Jose Mourinho’s side this season, having arrived on a free transfer from PSG in the summer.
CRITICISM WELCOME
“I have no problem [with the criticism] because I went through this my whole career. This is something that triggers me, gives me energy,” said Ibrahimovic. “People talking about me, saying: ‘You’re dead, you’re this, that, ex-players talking, and I don’t even remember them when they were playing. But one thing for sure is they will remember me for the rest of their lives.”
“After many years of talks like: ‘He can never make it in the Premier League, he can never make it there’, I had my little adventure going around different countries, and when they felt it was most difficult for me, I chose to come. Let’s say a person in my position would take the easiest way, go abroad, make money in China, or the other side and settle down with the career he had, I choose not, I took the challenge, accepted the challenge, and that’s what I chose,” he added.
“That’s why I chose United also, in a situation where they struggled for the last four or five years, and if I can finish the task to bring them to the top, I will be more than happy.
“I don’t like the easy task, the easy job, the easy objectives, I always had it hard whenever I went. I needed to do much more than the other ones, and that’s how I see it here. At the age of 35, people said it would be impossible, but I am doing what I am able to do,” said Ibrahimovic.
United have improved of late under Mourinho, winning their last six Premier League games to force themselves back into top-four contention—and possibly beyond. They are currently five points behind Liverpool.
“I’m looking forward. These games are the games you want to play in, be on that stage, and just enjoy the moment. Let’s enjoy the game, but most of all, let’s win the game,” he said.
The gap is smaller now, and if we can get that win from the top four, we are there.”