- Title: United to take up option to extend Ibrahimovic's contract
- Date: 23rd November 2016
- Summary: MANCHESTER, ENGLAND, UK (NOVEMBER 23, 2016) (REUTERS) MANCHESTER UNITED PLAYERS TRAINING UNITED FORWARD WAYNE ROONEY TRAINING / MANAGER JOSE MOURINHO WALKING ON TRAINING PITCH MOURINHO ARRIVING FOR NEWS CONFERENCE (SOUNDBITE) (English) MANCHESTER UNITED MANAGER, JOSE MOURINHO, SAYING: "The Zlatan (Ibrahimovic) situation is simple. He has a one-plus-one year (contract) in the club. We are happy with him, we are going to execute the option of a second season. So, in two years time he can do what he wants because he is free. But I think in the next one-and-a-half years he is going to do not just what we want but what he wants too, because he is happy, he is committed, he is loving his life as a football player at Man United. This is probably the last big challenge of his wonderful career so I think it is perfect for him to be here 18 months more and then he owns the decision on his future." UNITED STRIKER ZLATAN IBRAHIMOVIC TRAINING ALONGSIDE MIDFIELDER HENRIKH MKHITARYAN AND OTHERS IBRAHIMOVIC ARRIVING AT NEWS CONFERENCE (SOUNDBITE) (English) MANCHESTER UNITED STRIKER, ZLATAN IBRAHIMOVIC, SAYING: "For the moment there is no - we haven't had any discussions. I have a contract that says it is one-plus-one. So, I feel good, I feel fresh, I feel in shape and physically, if I feel like (I feel) now probably it will be a second year. I want to be realistic with myself and if I am here I want to be able to perform like I can do and not to waste time. But, like it is now? Probably yes but any discussions, we haven't had." PLAYERS TRAINING UNITED DEFENDER DALEY BLIND PASSING BALL UNITED DEFENDER PHIL JONES PASSING BALL BLIND PASSING (SOUNDBITE) (English) MANCHESTER UNITED STRIKER, ZLATAN IBRAHIMOVIC, WHEN ASKED BY A JOURNALIST WHY HE ISN'T SHINING AS MUCH AS IN PREVIOUS YEARS, SAYING: "I shine 24 hours, so it depends how you want me to shine. I mean I have been in the game for 20 years and I am getting older, yes but the older I get, the better I get I feel. But I am shining in one way or in another way. But if you want me to shine even more I will try and do it for you." PLAYERS TRAINING MOURINHO WALKING (SOUNDBITE) (English) MANCHESTER UNITED MANAGER, JOSE MOURINHO, SAYING: "Man United fans - what can I say? I can say that I am amazed with the way they are with the team because we, the team - when I say team, I say we - we have let them down, we have let them down a couple of times with a couple of really bad performances. Apart from that, we never let them down in terms of the quality of the game, the commitment, the effort, the enthusiasm, the commitment. We never let them down in that area. The results are not phenomenal but I think they understood clearly what the team is trying to achieve." ROONEY TRAINING ALONGSIDE MIDFIELDERS BASTIAN SCHWEINSTEIGER, ASHLEY YOUNG AND JUAN MATA BLIND PASSING WITH MIDFIELDER ANDER HERRERA AND FORWARD JESSE LINGARD MOURINHO WALKING ONTO PITCH WITH MANCHESTER UNITED SPORTS THERAPIST ROD THORNLEY AND POSING FOR PHOTOGRAPHS WITH THORNLEY AND ROONEY (SOUNDBITE) (English) MANCHESTER UNITED MANAGER, JOSE MOURINHO, SAYING: "We need four points to qualify. Doesn't matter what happens in the matches where we are not involved. Four points is a victory and a draw, there is no space for defeat. So tomorrow becomes a game where we have only two options and the third option, defeat, we are out. So, yes we are going to approach that game knowing that. It is a knock-out game for us. If we lose we are out so we cannot lose." MOURINHO WATCHING TEAM TRAINING GOALKEEPER DAVID DE GEA, WITH BALACLAVA OVER FACE, WALKING TEAM TRAINING
- Embargoed: 8th December 2016 16:02
- Keywords: Manchester United Europa League Mourinho Feyenoord Zlatan Ibrahimovic
- Location: MANCHESTER, ENGLAND UK
- City: MANCHESTER, ENGLAND UK
- Country: United Kingdom
- Topics: Soccer,Sport
- Reuters ID: LVA00159O10E7
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: Manchester United will exercise their option to extend veteran striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic's contract for a second season at Old Trafford, manager Jose Mourinho said on Wednesday (November 23).
The 35-year-old Ibrahimovic, who joined on a free transfer in July, has had a mixed start to his United career despite scoring eight goals in 17 games in all competitions.
"The Zlatan (Ibrahimovic) situation is simple. He has a one-plus-one year (contract) in the club. We are happy with him, we are going to execute the option of a second season," Mourinho told supporters.
"So, in two years time he can do what he wants because he is free. But I think in the next one-and-a-half years he is going to do not just what we want but what he wants too, because he is happy, he is committed, he is loving his life as a football player at Man United. This is probably the last big challenge of his wonderful career so I think it is perfect for him to be here 18 months more and then he owns the decision on his future."
Ibrahimovic said the extension is "automatic after a while", but the criteria for it to be triggered has yet to be fulfilled.
"I feel good, I feel fresh, I feel in shape and physically, if I feel like (I feel) now probably it will be a second year. I want to be realistic with myself and if I am here I want to be able to perform like I can do and not to waste time," added the Swede.
Ibrahimovic has won league titles in four different countries and at every club he has ever played for yet the league title looks a long way off for United at the moment.
Zlatan was asked about his current form on Wednesday and responded with a characteristic smile.
"I shine 24 hours, so it depends how you want me to shine. I mean I have been in the game for 20 years and I am getting older, yes but the older I get, the better I get I feel. But I am shining in one way or in another way. But if you want me to shine even more I will try and do it for you," he joked.
United are sixth in the Premier League after 12 games, two places and six points below the Champions League spots.
The club's fans have seen their team go through a rare dry spell in terms of trophies, since legendary coach Alex Ferguson left in 2013.
Mourinho was full of praise for the patience of the fans but also vowed to improve results on the pitch.
"I can say that I am amazed with the way they are with the team because we, the team - when I say team, I say we - we have let them down, we have let them down a couple of times with a couple of really bad performances. Apart from that, we never let them down in terms of the quality of the game, the commitment, the effort, the enthusiasm, the commitment. We never let them down in that area. The results are not phenomenal but I think they understood clearly what the team is trying to achieve," argued the Portuguese.
Mourinho also turned his attention to United next match against Feyenoord on Thursday (November 23) as they bid to reach the Europa League knockout stage from a difficult Group A.
Defeat by second-placed Feyenoord would put United, a point behind the top two, out if leaders Fenerbahce beat visiting Ukrainian side Zorya Luhansk in their penultimate group match.
Feyenoord will clinch a place in the last 32 with a win.
"Doesn't matter what happens in the matches where we are not involved. Four points is a victory and a draw, there is no space for defeat. So tomorrow becomes a game where we have only two options and the third option, defeat, we are out. So, yes we are going to approach that game knowing that. It is a knock-out game for us. If we lose we are out so we cannot lose," said Mourinho
United lost 1-0 to Feyenoord in Rotterdam in September but are on a 13-game unbeaten streak at home in Europe, last losing to Real Madrid at Old Trafford in the 2012-13 season. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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