Is It Time For Mourinho To Do The Unthinkable And Drop The Manchester United Hero From The Starting Line Up?

Though the world record signings of Paul Pogba is Manchester United’s biggest piece of business in the summer, their purchase of Swedish international Zlatan Ibrahimovic on a free transfer is nothing less. The 35-year old started his debut campaign in the Premier League with some great scoring knack, as he scored on his league and cup debuts for the side after helping them to the Community Shield victory over Leicester City earlier in the season. However, the attacker has not been effective in the last few games for the side and though he found the winner against Zorya in the Europa League, he has been far from convincing up ahead for the club.

Zlatan’s loss of form along with Wayne Rooney’s continuous miserable form has seen the club drop crucial points in the league in the last month or so and it now looks like Mourinho needs to reshuffle his front line. Zlatan is still one of the best strikers in Europe but he has not been able to link with his teammates and help his side throughout the game this season. At 35, he is surely not the agilest in the team and has at times become a liability for the side. The physical aspect of the game is not new to the Swede but having to put his body on the line twice every week is a bit too much to ask off him this season.

This has left the manager with big decisions to make going into the international break this month. Zlatan has retired from international duty and will be fresh for the game against Liverpool after the break but it might just be time for Mourinho to look at the alternatives to lead his side in crunch games. There are a number of options for the manager with the likes of Marcus Rashford and Anthony Martial, two players capable of leading the attack for the side, playing out of position to just get into the team.

The French youngster has been a revelation since moving to the club and is getting back to full fitness after a recent injury. He has settled into his role on the left side of the attack but he will be more effective, at least in a goal scoring perspective in a more central role.

He is young and dynamic and will provide his team with relentless energy up front making a number of runs and drawing defenders to remote places in the final third. His competitor for this spot is England’s youngster Marcus Rashford. The 18-year old has risen to a level of high quality at such a tender age and has already proven that he can take the burned of leading the attack line for his side. He is a natural finisher who has all the attributes that make him one of the best in the sport.

Zlatan is not among the players who will lose hope and will surely try hard to get back into the starting XI (if he is dropped in the first place). This might also help the club get the best out of the Swede for the rest of the season. But the recent games have shown that Zlatan may not be the right man for United and there might be a chance on the way in the next few weeks.