SWEDE DREAMS ARE MADE OF THIS
Mourinho: For Zlatan, to play in a European final in his country would be perfect & beautiful
JOSE MOURINHO wants to give star striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic a ‘beautiful’ chance to win the Europa League in his homeland.
The 35-year-old is a national hero in his native Sweden and work is under way on a statue of him in Stockholm – venue for the final on May 24.
But Mourinho’s first concern is United’s bid to ensure Champions League football next season.
And winning the Europa League now looks a better route than trying to catch fourthplaced Manchester City in the Premier League.
That explains his change of attitude to Europe’s secondary competition – from unwanted distraction to top priority.
But Mourinho accepts that the prospect of the veteran hitman capping an impressive first season for the Reds by starring in a European final is an enticing one.
Ibrahimovic has scored 28 goals since moving to Old Trafford from PSG and the United boss said: “For Zlatan, it would be fantastic to play the final in his country. It would be perfect, beautiful.”
Mourinho also insisted he was “not disappointed” with Ibrahimovic, despite blasting his strikers for failing to end the tie as a contest in Brussels.
“The team had the game in their hands,” he said. “We could have won 3-0 in Anderlecht and this would be a really nice game. We didn’t kill the game. I was not disappointed with Zlatan. But it was easy to kill the game.”
Asked whether lifting the trophy in Stockholm could tempt Ibrahimovic to quit at the top, Mourinho replied: “I don’t think about it. I think about Manchester United. I think it would be the perfect finale for us.
“A perfect end of season for us – a difficult season, lots of matches, fighting in every competition, trying to build a team, recovering a certain mentality.
“To play in a European final, despite it being the second competition, would be perfect for us.”
After Leicester’s Champions League exit at the hands of Atletico Madrid on Tuesday, United are also now flying the flag for English clubs in Europe.
Premier League clubs have struggled recently to make an impact on the continent – and United are the last team standing.
While Mourinho says the number of games in the top flight has an influence, it is the tough competition – from top to bottom – that puts the greatest pressure on the English elite abroad.
He cited Real Madrid fielding a “second team” at the weekend in La Liga, ahead of their victory over Bayern Munich, as an example of the advantage they have.
And he insisted no Premier League team challenging for the title could afford to try such a move ahead of a midweek European game.
Mourinho said: “I think the fixture list is important. The Christmas period is also important. The difficulty of the Premier League is also important.
“It is not because of the number of matches. It is also about the level of the competition and the quality of the competition.
“Last weekend, Real Madrid played their second team. Here we can’t do that. Every match is played at high intensity, so this really makes it more difficult.”
The tie is balanced at 1-1, but United have a strong record at home in the Europa League.
“If we don’t concede, we go through,” added Mourinho. “If they don’t score, they are out.
“That has to affect their way of thinking. So let’s see what happens. In the Europa League, we have won every match at home.
“Are we going to play for 0-0? No. We play at home. We always try to win a match.” Last weekend Real Madrid played a 2nd team, we can’t do that here