IBRA’S BACK
HE’S IN UNITED’S CHAMPIONS LEAGUE SQUAD:
ZLATAN IBRAHIMOVIC could be back in action within three months, after the striker was named in Manchester United’s Champions League squad.
The superstar Swede, who has re-signed to United for another season, is continuing his recovery from a cruciate ligament injury that was expected to keep him out until January.
But the striker, who turns 36 next month and scored 28 goals last season, was in Jose Mourinho’s 25-man squad submitted to UEFA yesterday, suggesting he could return to action earlier than expected, with United’s final two group games on November 22 and December 5.
The Reds have seven games this month, with Juan Mata acknowledging they face a huge test in the Premier League, Champions League and Carabao Cup.
“September is going to be very demanding for us, with seven games in just 22 days,” he wrote on his blog. “We’ve had a very good start in the league and the challenge now is not only to keep the same level, but to do the same in the rest of the competitions too.
“It’s a football marathon and we can prove that we have a squad full of good players, who are willing to put their skills at the service of the team.”
Mata is appearing at the Soccerex Global Convention in Manchester today to discuss his charity project Common Goal, to which the midfielder will donate one per cent of his salary.
Other players, including Bayern Munich’s Mats Hummels, have joined Mata’s initiative, with the Spaniard promising to reveal more high-profile names who have signed up.
“We keep moving forward and can feel the enthusiasm of many people who are joining us and showing their interest,” Mata added.
MAN UNITED SQUAD:
Goalkeepers – David de Gea, Sergio Romero.
Defenders – Victor Lindelof, Eric Bailly, Phil Jones, Marcos Rojo, Chris Smalling, Daley Blind, Luke Shaw, Antonio Valencia, Matteo Darmian.
Midfielders – Paul Pogba, Juan Mata, Jesse Lingard, Michael Carrick, Ashley Young, Ander Herrera, Henrikh Mkhitaryan, Marouane Fellaini, Nemanja Matic.
Strikers – Romelu Lukaku, Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Anthony Martial, James Wilson.