Ibra: I Am Super Happy

Following Manchester United's final match of 2016, an enthralling 2-1 win over Middlesbrough at Old Trafford, ManUtd.com and other reporters had an extended chat with Zlatan Ibrahimovic, who reflected on the win, his time in the Premier League so far and what 2017 may bring...

How much is the confidence growing in the squad following the win against Middlesbrough?
From every game you win you get confidence. We haven’t lost for the last 12 games I believe. It was an important win and we had to work hard. The important thing is the three points because we want to get closer to the top.

What did you make of your disallowed goal against Middlesbrough?
We were losing 1-0 and we should have had a goal that I scored. Why he [the referee] whistled I don’t know because at first he gave the goal and after thirty seconds he did not. I don’t know why he changed his mind and I couldn’t speak to him because I would have got a yellow card. We kept playing and we conceded a goal, but we worked hard and managed to get level and then lead within one minute.

If the goal stood, you would have been level with Lionel Messi on 51 calendar goals for 2016 – was that on your mind?
That was not important, the important thing was to win. When you suffer like that, losing 1-0, you just want to get the win to be happy. If I can ever help the team win, I will do everything. I am not worried about the goal, the win is the same if I beat Messi or not.

How would you describe the atmosphere around Old Trafford when Paul Pogba’s winning goal hit the back of the net? 
I had a lot of adrenaline [after the winning goal] so I heard my team-mates more than I heard the crowd. Every game we play is amazing, the Premier League is exciting. I could only imagine what it was like before I came and I heard a lot about it from the players I played with and now I am doing it myself. I can only agree with everybody it is amazing and it is not difficult to enjoy it.

If you play against West Ham United in the first match of 2017, it will be first time in your career you will have played twice in 48 hours. What are your thoughts on our busy winter schedule?
I think it’s crazy. I mean, let’s be honest and realistic for the health and physical point of view for players. You need rest and there is no superman that can recover from a game so fast. I cannot do anything about it, if the coach wants me to play, I will play. I am available, I feel good, but in truth you need two to three days to recover so I need to recover well.

How was the last year, 2016, for you?
I had a fantastic year. The second half of the year at PSG was amazing and then I came to United and my first six months here has been more than amazing. I am super happy. Let’s hope we can continue the ride and keep going. I don’t know how many years I have left but I feel good and I am enjoying the football. I came to the Premier League and people thought it would not be possible [for me to succeed], but like always, I make them eat their words! Every year the Premier League had been calling me, but it didn’t feel the right time. I wanted to come when everybody thought I was over and to prove them wrong!

What are your hopes for 2017?
Hopefully we can get to the top. We have had our dips, we were winning and losing, but hopefully the other teams drop points and we can move closer to them and get into the top four.

Ibrahimovic was speaking to ManUtd.com and other media after United's 2-1 win over Middlesbrough.

Credit: Manutd.com