Zlatan Ibrahimovic thinks Jose Mourinho “has the ability” to win the Premier League at Manchester United. Mourinho has been coming under increasing pressure this season over results, press conferences, playing style and a high-profile fall-out with Paul Pogba, among other things.
And it could have got worse on Saturday as United found themselves 2-0 down at home to Newcastle before three goals in the last 20 minutes turn the match in Mourinho’s favour.
Despite that, there is still a feeling of discontent at Old Trafford but former Red Devils striker Ibrahimovic thinks Mourinho is still the man.
“I think he has the ability to win [the Premier League]” said the Swede, speaking to BetHard. “I think he is the right coach for that club, for that team. But a coach is only as good as his team, so it’s not like he can do miracles if the team is not good enough. And I feel the team is good – it’s progressing, becoming better. This is his third year, the players know more and more the way he wants to play and how he wants it – so I believe, yes.”
Jose Mourinho is poised to hold talks over his future with Manchester United executive vice-chairman Ed Woodward on Wednesday amid more speculation over Zinedine Zidane.
With moredamaging claims being made about the future of several United starsshould Mourinho stay on as manager, reports have continued to grow that the club are considering an approach to appoint former Real Madrid coach Zidane as his successor.
Reports on Monday suggested Mourinho wanted United to publicly offer him their support as manager amid ongoing speculation and talks with Woodward in London – which are understood to be scheduled in for Wednesday evening – could be crucial to that.
According to The Sun, Mourinho is concerned that United are making ‘contingency plans’ to appoint his successor – and the shadow of Zidane continues to loom large over the under-fire Portuguese coach.
The paper claims that if Woodward can convince him that Mourinho is still their No 1, the Portuguese will then use the meeting to discuss a January plunge into the transfer market to bolster the United squad.
It’s claimed Mourinho will ask Woodward to find out just how much money he is going to get – with a new centre-half and possibly a winger at the top of his wishlist. Wednesday’s papers suggested the United boss would take in Serbia’s match with Montenegro to watch a potential recruit on Thursday.
Reports over Mourinho, Woodward talks come amid fresh speculation surrounding the future of Zidane.