Wednesday 11 January 2017

Jose Mourinho Talks About Ibrahimovic's Illness Ahead Of Liverpool Showdown

Manchester United manager, Jose Mourinho has given an update on his veteran striker's illness as he keeps his attention on the clash with Liverpool in the English Premier League. 














Ibrahimovic sat out Tuesday's first leg of the EFL Cup semi-final against Hull City at Old Trafford, where second-half goals from Juan Mata and Marouane Fellaini secured a 2-0 win for United.

Veteran striker Ibrahimovic, who has 18 goals in 28 games across all competitions this season, was laid low through illness and was forced to miss the clash against Hull City.

But after the game Mourinho quickly turned his attention to the clash with Liverpool, who are second in the Premier League and five points behind leaders Chelsea.




Mourinho however does not foresee this being an issue when he attempts to take a chunk out of the five-point gap between Jurgen Klopp's second-place side and his own men in sixth on Sunday.

When asked if the sickness would keep Ibrahimovic sidelined, he told ManUtd.com: "I don't think so, I don't think so.

"Zlatan is ill, so no problem I think he will be fine," Mourinho told a post-match news conference, before explaining defender Marcos Rojo is a doubt for the weekend due to a muscular problem.

The Portuguese coach was notably incensed by both his side's performance and the atmosphere created by the United support, which was insipid despite the gravity of the fixture. "They were very well organised defensively as I was expecting and it was not easy for us, he added. "I think we were a bit sloppy, always one more touch, delaying the decision and giving them time to re-group and it was not our best first half.

"I think in the first half the players they have to better, I have to do better and the fans, they can also do better. In the second half we improve just a little bit. Because this game is over I think now about Sunday [against Liverpool] and I need to do better, the players need to do better and the stadium has to do better too."

In Ibrahimovic's absence, it was left to another imposing penalty box presence to seal victory over a heavily depleted Hull.

Fellaini has rarely been anything approaching a fans' favourite at Old Trafford - a status Ibrahimovic claimed almost instantly after joining from Paris Saint-Germain last year - and the Belgium international's standing took another hit when he gave away a penalty to hand Everton a 1-1 draw against United at the start of December.

After he rose to nod Matteo Darmian's cross past Eldin Jakupovic in the Hull goal, Fellaini raced towards the dugout to embrace his manager, who in turn praised his mental strength.

Asked whether he had helped Fellaini over recent weeks, Mourinho said: "Yes, but that's the reason I am here. He is very strong in mentality and he coped well in the situation.

"He was not afraid the next match after Everton to come to the game again.
"He was phenomenal against Reading [last Saturday's 4-0 FA Cup win]. He knows that he is a very important player for me."


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