The 35-year-old Manchester United striker downed West Bromwich Albion with a double and is proving he has what it takes to cope in the Premier LeagueAs the final whistle blew at The Hawthorns, Zlatan Ibrahimovic found himself standing in the centre circle with the ball in his hands. Ultimately, he was one goal shy of being allowed to keep it but given how central the player had been to the outcome of proceedings, it was an apt sight on a dark December evening. Related: Manchester United ease past West Brom thanks to Zlatan Ibrahimovic double Related: Premier League fans’ half-time verdict part 2: Manchester United to West Ham Continue reading...
West Bromwich Albion are on a roll and their forceful manager’s ability to get the most out of a modest team has an admirer in José MourinhoTony Pulis recently said something very difficult to believe and it had nothing to do with that high court imbroglio. He said it after Salomón Rondón headed a hat‑trick against Swansea City on Wednesday, when the Venezuela striker offered a timely reminder of his expertise before Saturday’s home game with Manchester United, against whom Rondón scored the winning goal on their last visit to The Hawthorns.The odd remark Pulis made amid his praise for his striker was this: “He finds it extremely difficult to understand how hard every game is in the Premier League.”...
Spanish international and England veteran lay the foundations for Premier League victory over Tottenham at Old TraffordIn José Mourinho’s quest for the winning formula, he had at least found his midfield axis: Ander Herrera and Michael Carrick. As Manchester United hunted for a first three points since beating Swansea City on 6 November this match against Tottenham Hotspur was the fifth game the two players started together in the engine room and the second league outing in succession following the draw at Everton last week.Mourinho required some time to be convinced of Carrick’s worth, in particular. Perhaps the United manager harboured reservations over the ability of the England international, now aged 35, to deal with the physical demands of the...
The Old Trafford manager admits to liking trips to Goodison Park and this visit may be perfectly timed as his improving side face one stutteringJosé Mourinho enjoys going to Everton. “Always difficult, always beautiful,” he says. The Manchester United manager’s reasons include old-fashioned stadium architecture, passionate fans and the fact that Goodison Park was the setting for some of Portugal’s most famous victories in the 1966 World Cup. Mourinho was only three at the time Eusébio was banging in the goals against Brazil and North Korea, but he will not find it too difficult to re-imagine the atmosphere as the ground has hardly changed since.A more pragmatic reason for Mourinho to look forward to Sunday’s kick-off is that it breaks...
The Manchester United manager needs the fix that only a string of wins can bring and his frustrating team are not a million miles away from finding that rhythmJosé Mourinho always did take the League Cup – typically the lowest priority for managers at elite clubs – more seriously than most of his peers. Yet whether he regards Manchester United’s flourishes of finery as West Ham were swatted aside as a genuine turning point remains tantalisingly difficult to assess. Of course, he watched the game from his secret hiding place, so cameras were not privy to the expressions that might have given some clues as to whether he is convinced his plans for a more balanced, more effective team are...