Manchester United living on past glory - Zlatan Ibrahimovic

Damola Ogungbe 10:53 - 23 November 2021

Zlatan Ibrahimovic of Manchester United is the latest high-profile soccer player to head to MLS.

Zlatan Ibrahimovic says United should focus on the present, believes EPL is overrated technically.

Former Manchester United forward Zlatan Ibrahimovic has criticised Manchester United for dwelling so much on their past achievements as against the present situation. The 40-year-old forward said that while he played for United, he told the club's hierarchy that he was there to focus on the present and chart his history.

The AC Milan forward stated that in as much as making references to the past is welcomed, dwelling on it is not healthy.

The Swedish international was an immediate hit at Old Trafford, scoring 17 goals in his first season. His second season was ravaged by injuries that confined him to just five league appearances.

Manchester United striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic scored all of United's goals in their 3-0 win at home to French club St Etienne Thursday

Zlatan Ibrahimovic scored 29 goals whilst at Old Trafford

In an interview with The Guardian, the ex-United player said: “They talk too much about the past. When I went there I said: ‘I’m here to focus on the present and to make my own story.’ But when you have too much it becomes like a loop. You have to think about the present or you should go to a hospital and clean your head.”

He also said that the English Premier League is overrated in terms of technique. The veteran striker who has played in Sweden, England, Spain, France, and Italy noted that the technical quality is better in the latter three countries.

"I had a great experience in England. Manchester United are an amazing club and we won a couple of trophies. The quality is overrated in a technical way. But the Premier League has different qualities – the pace, the rhythm," the former United player said.

Zlatan Ibrahimovic scored at the weekend but will miss AC Milan's trip to Liverpool

AC Milan is the ninth club Zlatan Ibrahimovic has played for spanning across eight leagues and two continents

"You can be the best player in the world but if you cannot handle that pace and rhythm [you won’t succeed]. In Spain, France, Italy, the technique is better. That’s why there are so many foreigners in the Premier League. They bring the technical [aspect].”

Ibrahimovic has scored 489 club goals spread across eight different leagues. His highest goal return per league has come in the Italian Serie A, with his tally of 181 and counting. He also scored 156 goals in the French Ligue 1 whilst on the books of Paris Saint-Germain.