Manchester United manager, Jose Mourinho has ruled out Zlatan Ibrahimovic from the UEFA Champions League group stage matches citing fitness. According to Sky Sports, Mourinho believes that Ibrahimovic, who re-signed for the club on a one-year deal this week, will not be fit for the early stages of the Champions League but will play a vital role if the club reach the knock-out stages.
According to him, "I am not thinking Zlatan will play any part in the group phase. I don't think there is any chance of that. Do we have space in the Champions League list to have him? Yes, we have. Hopefully he can play in the knockout phase but for that we need to finish top two."
Mourinho expressed happiness over the decision of the club to resign the player. He claimed that the gesture, coming even when the player is still nursing injury he sustained in June demonstrates how detailed the club is.
"A club like Manchester United, in my opinion, has to show how big it is in details and this is a big detail. A player who gets injured in a Manchester United shirt, fighting for Manchester United, the club has to be there for him and I am really happy with club and player."
Zlatan had signed a new contract yesterday after reportedly rejecting overtures from other clubs. He claimed his decision to remain at Old Trafford was because of the love and achievements attained last season. He enthused that with the new additions, the club will win big this season.
