Jose: Recovery Hard For Zlatan

Jose Mourinho admits the knee ligament injuries suffered by Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Marcos Rojo are a big blow for Manchester United and feels the Swede’s recovery will be "really, really hard".

United confirmed on Saturday both players suffered "significant knee ligament damage" in the win over Anderlecht on Thursday and they appear certain to miss the rest of the season.

With Ibrahimovic turning 36 in October, he faces a long road to recovery, while for Rojo, his injury comes at a time when he was in the best form of his United career and Mourinho feels for both players.

"It is a big blow but we are really sad for them, not for us as a team, because they are much more important than us," Mourinho told Sky Sports.

"The injuries are really big. No player deserves to be injured. These two cases are even sadder because for Zlatan, in this phase of his career, it is really, really hard.

"Marcos was probably in the best moment of his career. He was playing very, very well for us and also getting, finally, a position as a central defender in the [Argentina] national team so I am really sad for them."

United have not yet officially ruled both players out for the rest of the season but Mourinho is not optimistic

When asked if he knows the full extent of the pair's injuries, Mourinho replied: "Yeah, I know but I think it is for the medical department to be more specific and they prefer to wait a couple of more days because the players they want to see other specialists and have an extra opinion.

"We have to respect that but they are important injuries."

Ibrahimovic is out of contract at the end of the season and the extent of his injury and his advanced age will give United an interesting decision about whether to offer him an extension for next season - something they had previously been keen to do.

Mourinho was asked whether he believes this could prompt the Swede to consider retirement but he insists it is too soon to answer that question.

"I don't care about it in this moment," Mourinho said. "I just want the player to recover the best he can. I am not thinking about it.

"I promise you I am not sad for the team. I am not worried about the impact not having them will have on the team in terms of results and ambitions."

Ibrahimovic's injury prompted Mourinho to recall Wayne Rooney to his starting line-up for Sunday's against Burnley after being limited to just two substitute appearances over the previous two and a half months.

The United captain responded by scoring the second goal of the game and Mourinho says every available member of his squad must deliver between now and the end of the season.

Mourinho said: "This moment is a moment for everybody to give everything they can.

"Of course not playing for such a long time and being injured for a few weeks, I don't believe he is at the top of his form. I don't believe he has 90 minutes but he has the mentality and the desire to help us.

"That for me is really important."

Credit: Skysports.com