Ibra finds it’s creaky bum time
ZLATAN IBRAHIMOVIC is feeling old after less than a season playing for Manchester United.
The Swedish striker has scored 28 goals, but, at 35, feels Jose Mourinho may have asked him to go to the well once too often as United chase Champions League qualification on two fronts.
Ibrahimovic admitted that he is now suffering the effects of the unrelenting pace of English football ahead of today’s clash with Chelsea at Old Trafford.
“The manager has been right to criticise the forward players, but against Anderlecht I wasn’t feeling good. I was feeling tired. But it is not an excuse,” said Ibrahimovic.
“I still have to do much more and much better than I did against Anderlecht.
“I speak for myself and it was not a good performance. We have one month to go. It is many games we must play and I have been playing almost all the games. We are still grinding, still pushing.
“We have the Europa League and the end of the Premier League. So we fight for it.”
Mourinho moaned that his players were jaded when they were held to a 1-1 draw by Anderlecht.
United are still favourites to progress to the Europa League semi-finals – with the winners of the competition guaranteed a place in next season’s Champions League.
United’s chances of landing a top-four Premier League place have been damaged by 10 draws in a 20-match unbeaten run that stretches back to the 4-0 hammering at Stamford Bridge in October.
Ibra, who has been nominated for the PFA Player of the Year award, said: “Chelsea are a good team, but they are only playing once a week. But they have a great team, or else they would not be in first place.”