The striker predicted who he thought would challenge Manchester United this season, but would it be Chelsea, Arsenal, Tottenham, Liverpool, Everton or Manchester City who miss out on the top six.
Zlatan Ibrahimovic of Manchester United celebrates as he scores their third goal during the EFL Cup Final
Following the announcement that Zlatan Ibrahimovic has agreed a new one-year deal at Manchester United, ESPN were eager to get the Swedish legend’s perspective on the early season, ahead of his return to action from a knee injury.
And he certainly made a bold prediction regarding one of the top teams last season, when asked who he thought would be United’s top challengers during the 2017/18 campaign.
“In the Premier League there are many, which are the top six let’s say, they will give a hard time for everybody,” Ibrahimovic told ESPN.
“Like last season Chelsea was the best team, they won. You’ll still have Chelsea, you have Liverpool, I think Everton are not to underestimated because they have a great coach and they are investing a lot to win.
“And obviously you have Arsenal, [Manchester] City. So I think it will look like last year but this year the Red Devils will be on top.”
With millions being spent throughout the division, it is certainly set to be competitive – something that the 35-year-old acknowledged with his mention of Ronald Koeman’s Everton.
Hugo Lloris of Tottenham Hotspur and Mauricio Pochettino manager of Tottenham Hotspur
But Premier League runners up Tottenham Hotspur were notable by their absence from Zlatan’s list, though they may just have slipped his mind.
Ibrahimovic’s confidence in his side is understandable, with them already top of the pile on goal difference after two games. But no team has won more points over the last two years than Mauricio Pochettino’s Tottenham side, and though they suffered a narrow defeat to Chelsea in their first Wembley game, it would surely be unwise to suggest the settled north Londoners finish all the way out of the top six.
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