Jose: Manchester United need Ibrahimovic to stay a second year

“Second is possible and we have to fight for it, but the Europa League is very hard”. Louis van Gaal was the next manager appointed and in his first season United finished in fourth place in the PL.

Eddie Howe has no fresh injury concerns but still can’t count on long-term absentees Callum Wilson, Adam Federici and Simon Francis, while Jordan Ibe remains doubtful.

The left-back has been in the dog house for months as the United boss favoured the likes of Matteo Darmian, Daley Blind and Marcos Rojo in defence.

Bournemouth (from): Boruc, A Smith, S Cook, Daniels, Mings, Wilshere, Arter, Fraser, Pugh, Surman, King, Allsop, Stanislas, Gradel, B Smith, Mousset, Afobe, Gosling, Ibe. Juan Mata, Wayne Rooney and Ibrahimovic scored for them while Smith pulled off a late stunner to get some consolation in the dying moments.

Jose Mourinho (Manchester United): “Bournemouth are a risky team, with quality and ambition, who are not afraid to play”.

“You trust [him] and are going to play your crucial change which is the last one.”

The England captain has also been linked with a return to Everton, but Mourinho said talk about such a move “makes no sense”. “He’s in the list, so one step up from not being in the final (at Wembley last weekend)”.

But the Portuguese reckons they could also have the best left back in Luke Shaw if he continues to work hard.

“So if you ask me do I know something about Rostov, or I start thinking about Rostov tomorrow after Bournemouth, I know a lot about Rostov”.

“We will look at our mindset, become very motivated again to prove people wrong”.

In his pre-match conference yesterday, Mourinho urged his team to take advantage of that but warned that Bournemouth are not an easy team to beat. “I have to think about different matches at the same time”.

And he added that he shares a wonderful relationship with the players and the Manchester United hierarchy.

“You can only be positive, there is no other way to approach this game or any other game”. We have to be prepared.We’re as confident as we can be with this run of fixtures. “Every player who we feel can make the team stronger is welcome at Everton”.

Our David John writes. Taking that into account, in my opinion, Adam Smith, Ryan Fraser and Joshua King will have to play important roles should they want to cause an upset.

There will be nobody more surprised by the news than Shaw himself, who wasn’t even named in the squad for last weekend’s EFL Cup victory over Southampton. The Red Devils defeated the Saints 3-2, thanks to a late victor from talisman Zlatan Ibrahimovic.

The manager singled him out for criticism earlier in the season when United lost 3-1 at Watford.

Keane, however, is still not convinced, and points to their league position as to why.

Going for our two central defenders Steve Cook and Tyrone Mings, they will have to keep a tight hold on the big United number 9 Zlatan Ibrahimovic, especially in the air.

In the renewal brochure for season ticket holders, Mourinho said: “I have to say I’ve been impressed by your dedication and commitment, as season ticket holders here at United”. ‘First is impossible. Second is possible and we have to fight for it.

The solution is not straight forward, it can never be, especially at a club like Manchester United where one bad decision can set the club back two or three years in terms of development.