Monday 10 April 2017 08:55, UK
Zlatan Ibrahimovic, who scored Man Utd's opening goal in their 3-0 win at Sunderland on Sunday, has carried Jose Mourinho's side all season, according to Sky Sports pundit Phil Neville.
The Swede produced yet another man-of-the-match display as United closed the gap on Man City in the fourth and final Champions League berth to just four points, and with a game in hand on their city rivals.
Ibrahimovic's breakthrough goal at the Stadium of Light was his 28th in all competitions in his debut campaign at Old Trafford, while the 35-year-old has also contributed a further 10 assists for the team.
However, Neville believes Ibrahimovic will need to maintain that impressive form in front of goal between now and the end of the campaign if United are to qualify for Europe's premier club competition.
"He has carried them, he really has," said the former United defender.
"The goals he has scored, his attitude on the pitch. Jose keeps rotating the team, but he never rotates Zlatan, who plays in every single minute of every single game.
"And they will need him to keep scoring goals from now until the end of the season.
"It was a brilliant strike from Zlatan, although really poor defending from Sunderland from [Lamine] Kone in particular. I know [Billy] Jones gets pinned from Zlatan Ibrahimovic, he should try and get in front.
"The lack of intensity from Kone, who does not look like he wants to go and close the ball down, he is ambling towards the ball, really poor defending. But a brilliant strike from Zlatan."
Fellow Sky Sports pundit Jamie Redknapp agreed with Neville' assessment of Ibrahimovic's impressive impact at United this season.
"He was by and away their best player again," he said.
"He [Jones] can't stop him getting on to his right foot, but is easier said than done because he just bludgeons it into the corner and how often do we see him do it?
They will need him to keep scoring goals from now until the end of the season
"He almost bullies Premier League defenders, he looks like he is enjoying it so much, he just holds off Jones, comes inside and whips it into the corner. Great finish."
Looking ahead to the climax to the campaign, though, Neville feels United's performance on Wearside will give the players confidence as they try and seal a top-four finish and win the Europa League.
In particular, the one-time England international highlighted the displays of Henrikh Mkhitaryan, Marcus Rashford, Marouane Fellaini and Paul Pogba at the Stadium of Light as positives going forward for Mourinho.
"They have taken a real battering this week in terms of confidence," said Neville.
"They passed the ball really well and they have got two or three players today who have come back into a little bit of form - Mkhitaryan looked bright, Rashford got his goal, Martial has come on and caused problems, Fellaini played really well.
"And I think it was a really professional performance and even Pogba, who has taken a lot of stick this season, played a sensible game. Six or seven out of 10, a brilliant ball forward for Rashford's goal."
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