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Premier League: Zlatan Ibrahimovic is exactly what Manchester United needed

When Louis Van Gaal was coming to the end of his tenure as Manchester United boss, there was a great sense of power and prestige being sucked out of the club.

David Moyes certainly didn’t help when taking over after the great Sir Alex Ferguson called time on his successful career, but it became more evident under Louis van Gaal that Manchester United’s achievements were quickly being forgotten.

In the modern era, where players are called ‘frauds’ if they misplace a pass, there was even more scrutiny and pressure on the Red Devils to bounce back with LVG in charge and return to the heights they once became accustomed to.

The Dutch boss, who this week announced a year-long sabbatical, might have delivered long-awaited FA Cup glory, but the overall feeling of his stint as manager of Man Utd will be one tarnished with stubbornness and stuck in an era gone by.

When deciding who to appoint after relieving LVG of his duties, Manchester United had to think about who has the ‘winning’ aura surrounding them. Someone that thinks they are the best and won’t let the possibility of the truth of that get in the way. Ah, yes: Jose Mourinho. The perfect man for the job.

One of Mourinho’s early decisions proved to be one of his best (to date). Bringing in Zlatan Ibrahimovic was genius. After the exodus of United leaders and legends under managers before him – Patrice Evra, Nemanja Vidic, Rio Ferdinand, Robin Van Persie, Paul Scholes etc., there was a severe lack of personalities in the dressing room.

What Manchester United needed was a player to reflect the manager’s mental state: to perform to full extent what the manager is saying in the dressing room. Someone, metaphorically speaking, ‘willing to die,’ for Mourinho. Someone whose personality transcends through the squad and inspires.

The Swedish superstar might be 35 years old, but he was the perfect player to bring in last summer. Someone who knew how to win and lead a team out of the slump they were in. Ibrahimovic was a born leader.

There was criticism over signing the ex-Paris Saint-Germain striker on a free transfer. ‘He’s 35 and has been playing in the French league for the last four years, he won’t be able keep up!’

Zlatan Ibrahimovic
Britain Soccer Football – Manchester United v Liverpool – Premier League – Old Trafford – 15/1/17 Manchester United’s Zlatan Ibrahimovic celebrates scoring their first goal Reuters / Phil Noble

Six months later, Ibrahimović has a whopping 19 goals in 34 appearances in all competitions for the club. Not bad for a player that has been playing against ‘farmers’ for the last four years and is still adjusting to a new country and a new league.

The retired Swedish international is the joint-leading top goalscorer in the Premier League and has had the most amount of shots. In truth, perhaps the only fault of Ibrahimovic can be that he should have scored a few more.

Similar to Bastian Schweinsteiger, Ibrahimovic’s presence arounds the club is welcomed by the youth.

Marcus Rashford recently praised the striker’s arrival at Old Trafford when speaking at a Nike event in Germany.

“For the young players to see his character and the way he approaches every game is invaluable,” he said. “Some players can’t bring that when they move clubs.

“We have to try to learn from him while he is here and take what we can from his game.”

It should not be underestimated how important a player like Ibrahimovic is to have in a squad that is largely inexperienced. To have a player that takes all the pressure off their shoulders, face up to the media, answer his critics week in, week out and to consistently perform at the highest of levels is the makings of a world-class player. He might well be paid a fortune every week, but he has more than earned his stripes so far this season.

On and off the field, it is evident to see the Swede’s impact on the club and how, with his help, Manchester United can return to their glorious past. First, though, he must help the club secure qualification for the Champions League and end the season on a high note.

@LiamPaulCanning