United can make up the 14-point gap, claims Ibra

ZLATAN IBRAHIMOVIC concedes Manchester United have tripped themselves up in the Premier League but believes they could still pip Chelsea to the title. Ibrahimovic hit his 20th goal of the season at Leicester City on Sunday as United found a ruthless streak following frustrating draws against Hull City and Stoke City. Jose Mourinho’s team are sixth, 14 points behind leaders Chelsea, paying the price for a lack of goals compared to their top-six rivals. And star striker Ibrahimovic admits things would be ‘totally different’ if United had taken their chances. ‘To be champions, it will be hard but this is our aim and we don’t give up,’ Ibrahimovic (left) said. ‘We are back in the hunt. It was a big gap a couple of months ago but it is smaller now. ‘We have been our own enemy. If we had got the points we should have, the situation would be totally different. We look at other teams and hope they lose points.’ Defender Chris Smalling added: ‘We’ve had a few opportunities to be able to close that gap and against Leicester we took that opportunity and played well. We need to build on this. ‘I think that’s our job, to keep in there and hopefully climb those places.’ Ibrahimovic grabbed United’s second at the King Power, his goal sandwiched between strikes from Henrikh Mkhitaryan and Juan Mata in a comfortable victory. At 35 years and 125 days old, he became the oldest player to reach 15 Premier League goals in a single season. He added: ‘Everything motivates me: all the targets, all the other critics, all the atmosphere coming to the Premier League and bringing more followers to the Premier League. I feel good.’