By Cabilablog
By Cabilablog
By Cabilablog
By Cabilablog
Ibrahimovic brace sees Man Utd close on top four
Zlatan Ibrahimovic scored twice as Manchester United secured their fourth consecutive victory with a comfortable 2-0 victory at West Bromwich Albion on Saturday. The Swedish striker struck early in each half as Jose Mourinho’s side pursued their recent upturn in form to move alongside fifth-place Tottenham Hotspur on 30 points in the Premier League table. United are now just three points off the four Champions League qualifying places, albeit having played a game more than third-place Arsenal and fourth-place Manchester City, who meet on Sunday. Ibrahimovic put his team on course for victory in the fifth minute at The Hawthorns when he finished off a splendid move in style. France international Paul Pogba, who dominated midfield throughout, set the ball rolling with a crossfield pass to right-back Antonio Valencia. Valencia’s lofted pass sent Jesse Lingard hurtling past left-back Allan Nyom before a wonderful, pinpoint cross eluded Gareth McAuley and allowed Ibrahimovic to nod past Ben Foster from 10 yards. Wayne Rooney came close to doubling the lead when his goal-bound header was blocked by Craig Dawson. He would have been forgiven for thinking he had equalled the watching Bobby Charlton’s all-time record of 249 goals in United colours midway through the first half. Ibrahimovic – Mourinho The United captain set his sights on goal from the edge of the penalty box and his powerfully struck, rising shot looked certain to strengthen his team’s grip on proceedings. But Foster brilliantly tipped the ball onto the crossbar to deny his former England and United colleague a moment of history. There was, though, no keeping Ibrahimovic out of the limelight and moments later, Baggies fans demanded his dismissal when the giant forward flattened Dawson with a crude aerial challenge. The yellow card shown by referee Anthony Taylor was greeted with a chorus of boos. – Rondon-Rojo flashpoint – West Brom, currently in seventh place, struggled to make home advantage count, but David de Gea was finally tested when Chris Brunt tried his luck from 20 yards following good work by Nacer Chadli. Salomon Rondon, who scored a 13-minute hat-trick of headers in the midweek 3-1 defeat of Swansea City, then procured a chance to show he was head and shoulders above United’s defence. The Venezuelan striker escaped the attentions of centre-backs Marco Rojo and Phil Jones, but nodded Matt Phillips’s cross wide of the target. Back came United and Lingard, in for the dropped Juan Mata, should have given United a two-goal cushion just before the break. But the composure he showed when teeing up Ibrahimovic early on deserted him and he shot wildly over with just Foster to beat following Matteo Darmian’s miscue. It was left to Ibrahimovic to double United’s lead 11 minutes into the second half, but this time he needed the help of Lady Luck to get the better of Foster. After picking up possession from Rooney just outside the box, the 35-year-old sprang between two defenders before unleashing a low shot that beat Foster with the help of a deflection off Dawson. Tempers flared briefly when Rondon tangled with Rojo, the West Brom striker appearing to slap the United defender, and both were cautioned. But there was no knocking Mourinho’s players out of their stride as they defended with discipline and determination. Ibrahimovic, who now has 16 United goals to his credit, showed his selfish side when he went for goal himself rather than setting up Pogba as United broke and the latter made his disapproval clear to his colleague. Pogba’s heart would have been in his mouth when the locals, including Albion manager Tony Pulis, screamed for handball after he was struck by McAuley’s header following Chris Brunt’s corner. But that was as close as the home side got to halting United’s momentum.Ibrahimovic brace sees Man Utd close on top four
By Cabilablog
Bastian Schweinsteiger has told Jose Mourinho that he is ready to give his all for the team whenever the Manchester United manager needs him.
The former Germany international has yet to feature in a competitive game this season after being deemed surplus to requirements by Mourinho at the start of the campaign.
He was recently welcomed back to first-team training, though, and is desperate to start playing games again.
"I am trying to keep myself fit for the situation in which I am needed," Schweinsteiger was quoted as saying by Eurosport.
"Hopefully I will be given a chance. I look forward to training every day and being able to train with the team. I do not know if I will get a chance but I hope so. If I am needed, I will give everything - I am ready.
"I still feel fit at 32 and certainly want to play more years at the top level and, of course, I want to win things. We won the FA Cup last year and that was also one of my aims. Of course it would be great to play for United in the Premier League and perhaps win it.
"I am not one to think of burying my head in the sand. I have always been a positive person and still am now. My rhythm is good - of course, it is different when you play each weekend compared with when you are only training, but I enjoy my football."
Bastian Schweinsteiger has told Jose Mourinho that he is ready to give his all for the team whenever the Manchester United manager needs him.
The former Germany international has yet to feature in a competitive game this season after being deemed surplus to requirements by Mourinho at the start of the campaign.
He was recently welcomed back to first-team training, though, and is desperate to start playing games again.
"I am trying to keep myself fit for the situation in which I am needed," Schweinsteiger was quoted as saying by Eurosport.
"Hopefully I will be given a chance. I look forward to training every day and being able to train with the team. I do not know if I will get a chance but I hope so. If I am needed, I will give everything - I am ready.
"I still feel fit at 32 and certainly want to play more years at the top level and, of course, I want to win things. We won the FA Cup last year and that was also one of my aims. Of course it would be great to play for United in the Premier League and perhaps win it.
"I am not one to think of burying my head in the sand. I have always been a positive person and still am now. My rhythm is good - of course, it is different when you play each weekend compared with when you are only training, but I enjoy my football."
The former Germany international has yet to feature in a competitive game this season after being deemed surplus to requirements by Mourinho at the start of the campaign.
He was recently welcomed back to first-team training, though, and is desperate to start playing games again.
"I am trying to keep myself fit for the situation in which I am needed," Schweinsteiger was quoted as saying by Eurosport.
"Hopefully I will be given a chance. I look forward to training every day and being able to train with the team. I do not know if I will get a chance but I hope so. If I am needed, I will give everything - I am ready.
"I still feel fit at 32 and certainly want to play more years at the top level and, of course, I want to win things. We won the FA Cup last year and that was also one of my aims. Of course it would be great to play for United in the Premier League and perhaps win it.
"I am not one to think of burying my head in the sand. I have always been a positive person and still am now. My rhythm is good - of course, it is different when you play each weekend compared with when you are only training, but I enjoy my football."
Schweinsteiger: I am ready whenever Mourinho needs me
By Cabilablog
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