{"id":10869,"date":"2016-08-21T10:56:53","date_gmt":"2016-08-21T09:56:53","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blog.colossusbets.com\/?p=10869"},"modified":"2021-03-06T16:25:40","modified_gmt":"2021-03-06T16:25:40","slug":"zlatan-main-man","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.colossusbets.com\/blog\/zlatan-main-man\/","title":{"rendered":"Zlatan the main man"},"content":{"rendered":"

Jose Fonte could see the danger unfolding before his eyes, but the Southampton centre-back was\u00a0powerless to stop it. Steven Davis was slow to close Wayne Rooney down out on the right flank, and\u00a0when the Manchester United captain\u2019s cross came in and hung in the air in front of Zlatan\u00a0Ibrahimovic, there was only ever going to be one outcome.<\/p>\n

It was a stunning header from the Swede, who leapt above Fonte and planted the ball past Fraser\u00a0Forster and into the back of the net. The goal set United on their way on Friday night, with the\u00a0former Paris Saint-Germain talisman adding his and the Red Devils\u2019 second from the penalty spot in\u00a0the 52nd minute to wrap up a rather routine 2-0 victory at Old Trafford.<\/p>\n

It is now two wins from two\u00a0for Jose Mourinho\u2019s men, and while they would have expected nothing less from clashes with\u00a0Bournemouth and Southampton, it is notable that United took zero points from the corresponding\u00a0fixtures last term.<\/p>\n

The focus before the game was on Paul Pogba, the most expensive footballer in the world who was\u00a0making his first appearance for United since sealing an \u00a389 million return from Juventus earlier this\u00a0month. The ex-Juventus midfielder was excellent alongside Marouane Fellaini in the engine room,\u00a0demonstrating the wide range of qualities which make him worth every penny of his hefty price tag,\u00a0but it was Ibrahimovic who collected the Man of the Match award at the end of the encounter.<\/p>\n

Somewhat overshadowed in the build-up to the match \u2013 a situation the 34-year- old is not at all used\u00a0to \u2013 the 6ft 5in striker ensured the focus was back on him by the time referee Anthony Taylor had\u00a0blown his whistle for the final time.<\/p>\n

United played with a swagger that has not been seen at Old Trafford too often in recent years, with\u00a0the arrival of Ibrahimovic playing a big part in the change of mood and atmosphere around the club.\u00a0A player who has won 11 league titles and six domestic cup competitions in his career to date was\u00a0always bound to add plenty in terms of leadership and experience, but Ibrahimovic still has much to\u00a0offer on the pitch, too. As well as the clinical touch in front of goal he demonstrated against\u00a0Southampton, United\u2019s new No.9 can hold the ball up, bring team-mates into the game and drop\u00a0deeper in the pitch to contribute in the build-up phase of play. He may now be in his mid-30s, but\u00a0Ibrahimovic shows no signs of slowing down just yet.<\/p>\n

\u201cIf the team does good, the individual does good, always,\u201d the striker told\u00a0Sky Sports after Friday\u2019s\u00a0game. \u201cI try to do what I\u2019m best at, create chances, help my team-mates and then score goals.\u00a0\u201cIt\u2019s a different game here. You don\u2019t get a lot of chances like I did in France which is normal because\u00a0the game is tougher and you need to work through the game. It\u2019s the beginning, we get to know\u00a0each other and when the possibility comes we need to be focused.\u00a0\u201cFor me, if the goal is early or late, it\u2019s the same thing – in the end it\u2019s the three points that counts. If\u00a0I score, Paul [Pogba] scores, whoever scores, for me it doesn\u2019t matter.\u201d<\/p>\n

United fans would agree with that sentiment, but after such a fast start to his Premier League career\u00a0they will have to get used to Ibrahimovic wheeling away in celebration on a regular basis this term.<\/p>\n

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