Does Manchester United rely on Ibrahimovic too much?

Veteran Swedish striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic has been a big hit at Manchester United

Manchester United and striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic had a weekend to forget. On Saturday lunchtime they were held to a 1-1 draw by struggling Bournemouth, who played for the whole of the second half with ten men after the dismissal of Andrew Surman.

Ibrahimovic had a particularly frustrating day missing a penalty, receiving the studs of Tyrone Mings’ boots on his head and appearing to elbow the Cherries defender in an act of retribution.

United becoming increasing dependent on Ibrahimovic

It seems that Zlatan Ibrahimovic is becoming a more and more influential figure for the Red Devils. The Swedish star was the hero last weekend in the EFL Cup final against Southampton, scoring a brace in a 3-2 win. He is the man United look for when they need inspiration.

The veteran striker very rarely has an off-day, but when he does United tend to struggle to score goals and get going. Maybe his teammates are waiting for the striker to do something to spark them into life.

If they are then they are avoiding taking responsibility. The Red Devils should not be depending on the 35-year-old striker to always bail them out. Some of his highly rated and expensive teammates need to step up their game for United to be successful.

The likes of Paul Pogba, Anthony Martial and Wayne Rooney have flattered to deceive in recent months.

May well lose Ibrahimovic in the summer

Zlatan Ibrahimovic has been outstanding since arriving on a free transfer in the summer. The striker has scored 26 goals in 39 appearances in all competitions for the Red Devils this season. He has certainly proven his critics wrong about him thriving in the Premier League.

However, his time in English football could prove to be very short-lived. The veteran striker only signed a year deal at United last summer. The deal seemed to suit everybody at the time.

The Red Devils got a prolific striker and Ibrahimovic had the chance to showcase his skills in a league he had failed to conquer, as the striker himself would have put it.

Both parties were keeping their options open if the deal did not work out. Unfortunately for United, the shortness of the Swedish striker’s contract could come back to haunt them. Ibrahimovic is now being linked with lucrative moves to China and the USA.

The striker has previously talked about conquering MLS, just as he has the Premier League. A United exit this summer cannot be ruled out. Ibrahimovic would be a loss to the current team, as he is their figurehead.

His character and will-to-win is second to none at United. No doubt if Ibrahimovic does leave in the summer United would have to go out and spend a fortune on a striker. However, it would be hard to find a striker as prolific and with the same presence as the Swede.

United could have a dress rehearsal of what life might be like without the Swede in the near future, as he may well be given a retrospective ban for his clash with Mings.

Fighting it out for a top-four spot

The weekend draw against Bournemouth was a setback in United’s aim of achieving a top-four finish this season. The Red Devils started the season as one of the favourites to win the title.

However, things did not go to plan in the early months of the campaign for Jose Mourinho’s men. The men from Manchester are now sixth place and odds of 2/1 to finish in the top-four this season, which are the longest odds of any of the current top six.

If United fail to finish in the Champions League spots, then it will not be for the want of trying on the part of their veteran Swedish striker. If some of his United teammates had produced anywhere near the form he has this season, then the Red Devils may have been realistic title contenders this season.

Ibrahimovic’s long-term future at United may be in doubt. However, the impact he has had at the club is not. The Swedish international will be missed next season if he does move. He will be very hard to replace that is for sure.

Does Manchester United rely on Ibrahimovic too much?