Manchester United have really struggled without Zlatan Ibrahimovic in the side this season.
Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho
Ex-Liverpool star Jamie Redknapp explained how Manchester United’s demise since Sir Alex Ferguson left the club is highlighted by their over-reliance on Zlatan Ibrahimovic, when writing his regular column for the Daily Mail.
Jose Mourinho’s men seem totally lost without their star man, completely devoid of ideas without the big Swede as their focal point.
United dropped more points at home on Saturday, with their disappointing 0-0 draw with West Bromwich Albion making it eight draws from 15 games played in the Premier League at Old Trafford so far this term.
And Redknapp, who made 311 appearances for the Red Devils’ bitter rivals Liverpool, suggested that the manner in which Mourinho’s side operate is a far cry from his playing days, when he came up against Ferguson’s men, when writing his regular column for the Daily Mail:
“It cannot be right that if Zlatan Ibrahimovic does not play, Manchester United do not score. When I played against United, at times there would be seven or eight men in your box trying to score. It sometimes felt like there were 13 United players on the pitch. I used to count them to make sure Fergie wasn’t up to any tricks!”
Manchester United’s Zlatan Ibrahimovic
United now sit five points adrift of the top four, although they do have a game in hand over fierce rivals Manchester City in fourth spot.
And if they are to have any chance of qualifying for the Champions League through their finishing position in the table, they will need Ibrahimovic to be at his very best for the final quarter of their campaign.
It must be a worry for Mourinho and co, however, that their chances of success seem to depend so heavily on the fitness of a 35-year-old.
Manchester United’s Zlatan Ibrahimovic in action
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