In what has come as a terrible blow to the player and the club, Zlatan Ibrahimovic is likely to miss the rest of the season and there is a chance he might not be in action till next year.
Manchester United are now in the semis of the second-tier European tournament where they face Celta Vigo. However, Mourinho didn’t look overjoyed at all as they now deal with the absence of Ibrahimovic and Marcos Rojo adding to the already lengthy list. The team is already down to their bare bones with the likes of Chris Smalling, Juan Mata and Phil Jones out till next month at least.
One doesn’t get any fitter with age and the 35-year-old’s awkward landing while challenging for the ball seems to have had a serious blow. Knee injuries don’t get fixed easily and although full-back Luke Shaw stated that the striker ‘is fine’, the manager sounded otherwise.
The clips show a horrific landing, and Mourinho said, “I want to wait but my feeling is not good for both. I want to wait and be optimistic but I am not.” The player was subbed in the final quarter of the game. Without their top scorer, it will be immensely difficult for United to endure the rest of the campaign.
On the domestic league front, United face a tough battle with Arsenal and Manchester City in landing the fourth place to secure a Champions League spot next season. That looks highly unlikely now with the existing squad and with Europa League title clearly in their sights, Mourinho will logically aim for it to get his way round the top four rat race.
Mourinho has, however, proved last week itself that United’s goal scoring abilities don’t hinge solely on Zlatan as a mesmerising Rashford brought home three points against league leaders Chelsea. The 19-year-old has been phenomenal since breaking into the United first team and has scored five goals this season.
But, while his style of play is worth gambling against a Chelsea side, who came at Old Trafford to win and left little protection at the back except for their last three defenders, their next opponent will be a whole different ball game. Burnley, at home, are compact in defending and will be more than happy for a stalemate against United.
The aerial and physical dominance that Zlatan had, doesn’t apply for Rashford. It is time the club’s old hero, Wayne Rooney, take up the cudgels. United are yet to play Arsenal, Tottenham Hotspur away from home and we won’t be surprised to see Fellaini taking a forward role alongside Rooney in those games.
