Manchester United’s Ibra-dependence masks José Mourinho’s safe approach | Michael Cox


Zlatan Ibrahimovic makes chances out of nothing which covers up his team’s lack of creativity, but Mourinho could help his striker with braver team selection

Throughout Zlatan Ibrahimovic’s long, varied career across eight different clubs in six separate countries, his teams have consistently benefited from his genius while also suffering from so-called Ibra-dependence. The Swede is so consistently brilliant, and conjures up moments of magic from seemingly unthreatening situations, that his teams become reliant on him to a staggering extent.

Manchester United’s dependence is hardly an overnight development considering his sensational first Premier League campaign – he has now scored 17 and assisted five of Manchester United’s 46 goals – but his opener against Sunderland was a perfect demonstration of how he becomes so dominant.

Related: Zlatan Ibrahimovic helps Manchester United stroll past poor Sunderland

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