AFP, London :
Having spectacularly exploded doubts about his age since joining Manchester United, Zlatan Ibrahimovic approaches Sunday’s League Cup final against Southampton seeking a second triumph of the season at Wembley Stadium.
The 35-year-old made his first official United appearance at Wembley in August’s Community Shield against Leicester City, a towering late header giving him the 29th trophy of his career.
He returns having confirmed that early promise with a further 23 goals in 35 games and having done more than any other player to keep Jose Mourinho’s side on course for success on four fronts. “People that know me know that I play in many clubs and I try to do my best,” Ibrahimovic said recently.
“Wherever I went I won, so I am like Indiana Jones.”
Famed for his larger-than-life ‘Zlatan’ persona, Ibrahimovic has not disappointed English football fans, his provocative soundbites including a claim that his critics have been made to “eat their balls”. But while the Swede was always expected to provide regular material for Britain’s tabloid headline-writers, his impact on the pitch has taken many by surprise. Having gorged on silverware during a four-year stint at Paris Saint-Germain, Ibrahimovic, it was felt, would struggle to adapt to the break-neck pace and cut-troat competitiveness of the Premier League.
Instead he has thrived, scoring at a rate not seen since Robin van Persie’s time at Old Trafford and keeping United in contention for glory in the League Cup, FA Cup and Europa League and a top-four finish in the Premier League. In helping to restore belief within a squad besieged by negativity under David Moyes and Louis van Gaal, he has even earned comparisons with Eric Cantona, catalyst supreme of the Alex Ferguson era.
“I think there’s similarities because of that confidence they have in their own ability and the goals that they have scored,” says former United midfielder Ryan Giggs.
Having spectacularly exploded doubts about his age since joining Manchester United, Zlatan Ibrahimovic approaches Sunday’s League Cup final against Southampton seeking a second triumph of the season at Wembley Stadium.
The 35-year-old made his first official United appearance at Wembley in August’s Community Shield against Leicester City, a towering late header giving him the 29th trophy of his career.
He returns having confirmed that early promise with a further 23 goals in 35 games and having done more than any other player to keep Jose Mourinho’s side on course for success on four fronts. “People that know me know that I play in many clubs and I try to do my best,” Ibrahimovic said recently.
“Wherever I went I won, so I am like Indiana Jones.”
Famed for his larger-than-life ‘Zlatan’ persona, Ibrahimovic has not disappointed English football fans, his provocative soundbites including a claim that his critics have been made to “eat their balls”. But while the Swede was always expected to provide regular material for Britain’s tabloid headline-writers, his impact on the pitch has taken many by surprise. Having gorged on silverware during a four-year stint at Paris Saint-Germain, Ibrahimovic, it was felt, would struggle to adapt to the break-neck pace and cut-troat competitiveness of the Premier League.
Instead he has thrived, scoring at a rate not seen since Robin van Persie’s time at Old Trafford and keeping United in contention for glory in the League Cup, FA Cup and Europa League and a top-four finish in the Premier League. In helping to restore belief within a squad besieged by negativity under David Moyes and Louis van Gaal, he has even earned comparisons with Eric Cantona, catalyst supreme of the Alex Ferguson era.
“I think there’s similarities because of that confidence they have in their own ability and the goals that they have scored,” says former United midfielder Ryan Giggs.
