Team mate Jones hails 'defenders nightmare' Ibrahimovic
(Reuters) - Zlatan Ibrahimovic has silenced his critics and proved a "nightmare" for the defenders, team mate Phil Jones has said after the striker inspired Manchester United to victory over Southampton in Sunday's League Cup final.
Despite suggestions that the Swede would struggle to adapt to the pace and intensity of the English game, the 35-year-old Ibrahimovic has been in fine form and scored a brace at Wembley to take his goal tally to 26 this season.
"He has great movement off the ball for how big he is. In the air he is hard to challenge against. He is a nightmare for defenders," Jones told British media.
"He had a lot of doubters when he came, (whether he) could do it in the Premier League. He has quietened people down now... He deserves all the credit he gets."
With United pursuing further silverware in the FA Cup and Europa League, as well as a top-four Premier League finish, Jones was eager to add to the club's trophy haul this campaign.
"We are in every competition... It won't be easy but we are still confident," Jones added ahead of Saturday's clash against 14th-placed Bournemouth.
"In the FA Cup we have a tough tie away to Chelsea (on March 13) and in the league we need to capitalise on people slipping up around us. That starts on Saturday."
(Reporting by Shravanth Vijayakumar in Bengaluru)