Zlatan targets more trophies after cup win

Manchester United won the first major trophy of the season on Sunday afternoon as they claimed a 3-2 win over Southampton, thanks largely to Zlatan Ibrahimovic.

Ibrahimovic gave Manchester United the lead in the game after just 19 minutes, when he hit a superb free-kick into the back of the net, while when Jesse Lingard made it 2-0 in the 38th minute with a crisp finish, Southampton looked in all kinds of trouble.

Three minutes after the break Southampton were level and it was January signing Gabbiadini who again showed his poaching skills, holding off Chris Smalling to shoot low past De Gea.

Ibrahimovic moved to Manchester United in a free transfer from Ligue 1 champions Paris Saint-Germain in the summer transfer window.

It was Mourinho’s main man, Zlatan Ibrahimovic, who, perhaps somewhat predictably, proved to be the match victor. I wanted very much to win a major trophy at every club; by doing that with Manchester United it’s quite the sense of relief because it was a big target for me. “If needed, they will go, for sure”.

“I know the last time Southampton can win a cup was in 1976 against Manchester”. But it is all down to him.

“When he decides to come here it is because he feels ready. Only a silly player comes to England at that age, with the successful career he had had, if he thinks he can not do it”. I don’t think he needs more homages because no-one can believe what he did.

Mourinho also praised the impact that Zlatan Ibrahimovic has had in his first season at Old Trafford, saying the 35-year-old Sweden striker could emulate Ryan Giggs by playing into his 40s.

“I’m very happy as now I have the same as the biggest one (Alex Ferguson) and the same as Mr (Brian) Clough (won at Nottingham Forest) and the chance to win it for a fifth time”, he said.

“But I repeat it’s just my experience, a calf, a hamstring, even if it’s minor minor, some fibre damage, I think out.”

I predicted what I would do. To many, I could not do it. “My friend, I keep going.” . “You don’t accept it and you are always chasing more success”.

Southampton were also celebrating that February weekend seven years ago, but it is a measure of their understated but remarkable rise that the victory came against Walsall in League One.

“I have to make a decision”, Mourinho said on Rooney. “If we go to extra time, we would be in trouble”. Not only that, it was Ibrahimovic’s 13th goal in nine games against Claude Puel’s side. “I would like the video technology in the future for these situations”, the Southampton manager said. If you lose it’s a bad feeling.