Manchester United's Swedish striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic/ AFP PHOTO / GLYN KIRK /
Zlatan Ibrahimovic compared himself to the action movie hero Indiana Jones after scoring his first hat-trick for Manchester United.
Just as fictional archaeologist Jones, played in a series of Hollywood movies by screen star Harrison Ford, usually returns from his adventures with a trophy, so too has the career of the much-travelled Ibrahimovic yielded plenty of silverware.
Ibrahimovic scored all of United’s goals in their 3-0 win at home to French club St Etienne in the first leg of their Europa League last-32 clash on Thursday.
That took the 35-year-old Swede’s tally for United to an impressive 23 goals in all competitions since his pre-season arrival at Old Trafford.
United are now favourites to win European club football’s second-tier tournament as well as next week’s English League Cup final against Premier League rivals Southampton at Wembley.
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Ibrahimovic, who has already won the Community Shield since joining United, said after Thursday’s match: “Every trophy for me is incredible, everywhere I came I won so if I can win something here I will be super happy.
“People that know me know that I play in many clubs and I try to do my best.
“Wherever I went I won, so I am like Indiana Jones,” added Ibrahimovic, who has been a member of national championship-winning sides in the Netherlands, Italy, Spain and France.
As for his hat-trick against St Etienne, the delighted forward said: “It feels good. I got a lot of help from my team-mates. We played an open game today and it was important to get a good result so we can take it into the second leg.
“We won 3-0 and I got to score the three goals so I am happy for that. We have still many games to play so hopefully I can continue like I am doing.”
Having played at St Etienne during his time in Ligue 1 with Paris Saint-Germain, Ibrahimovic said United had done well to deny the visitors a goal at Old Trafford.
“Exactly. A good result because I know how difficult it is to play over there,” he explained. “They have a fantastic crowd, fantastic support, and the stadium is very nice, so the guys will see it when we go there.
“It is a good team. They always make it difficult for every team they play against and when I was at PSG the same thing. They did good.
“I think a couple of players are new, a couple of players left, but it is a good team.”
Source: G Sport
