Man Utd boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer gives Zlatan Ibrahimovic verdict ahead of AC Milan clash

Man Utd: Solskjaer details where team can improve

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Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has admitted that he has been seriously impressed with former Manchester United striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic since his move to AC Milan in January of last year. The veteran forward has provided over 30 per cent of his side’s goals in Serie A this season, scoring 14 times in just 13 league appearances for the San Siro giants.

The 39-year-old will get the chance to help knock his former employers out of the Europa League next month, when Milan face the Red Devils over two legs for a place in the quarter-finals.

United’s attention has turned mostly to their European campaign after dropping out of the Premier League title race in recent weeks, with noisy neighbours Manchester City well on their way to sealing their second domestic triumph in three seasons.

Milan, who are currently battling Inter for the Serie A crown, will provide a tough test for Solskjaer and his side with both clubs in the hunt to restore former continental glories.

Although Ibrahimovic did not manage to find the back of the net in either of Milan’s round of 32 matches against Red Star Belgrade, Solskjaer is wary of the threat he could pose to United when the two European heavyweights lock horns.

The 48-year-old, who celebrated his birthday on Thursday, told reporters after Friday’s draw that he admires the determination shown by Ibrahimovic to fight his way back to the upper reaches of the game.

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The striker suffered a potentially career-ending knee ligament injury while playing for United four years ago, but recovered fully to recapture his prolific form of old with the help of a two-year spell in the MLS with LA Galaxy.

“Zlatan, of course, I’ve been so impressed, I’ve got to say, by how his career has gone,” said Solskjaer.

“He had a career-threatening injury when he was here but came back from that and went to the MLS, then came back to Milan and has really lifted them.

“They’re on the up and have done really well this season. I’ve been so impressed by him.”

United’s pairing with Milan is arguably the tie of the round, with both sides sitting in second place in their respective leagues.

Their last meeting was in the Champions League eleven years ago, with the Red Devils winning comfortably over two legs to progress to the quarter-finals.

Solskjaer revealed that he is expecting a tougher test this time around, but stressed that his players are up for the challenge and more than capable of producing the goods.

When quizzed on the upcoming test, the United boss quipped: “It’s a nice birthday gift, isn’t it?

“We do have the tradition of making it hard for ourselves in draws. It’s one of the those draws again that you feel could be a Champions League game.

“It’s good for us to have these games to look forward to. This team needs challenges and we enjoy challenges and we embrace them.

“The tradition and history of AC Milan, it’s a great club that we welcome and it’s a great stadium that we go to there, and we’re looking forward to it.”

The first leg of the Europa League clash will see Ibrahimovic return to Old Trafford on March 11, before United make the trip to the San Siro seven days later.

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