Zlatan Ibrahimovic is to blame for Romelu Lukaku’s scoring woes, says Man Utd legend Rio Ferdinand
MANCHESTER UNITED legend Rio Ferdinand believes Romelu Lukaku's goal drought is down to the return of Zlatan Ibrahimovic.
The Belgian fired yet another blank after missing a guilt edge chance in the 4-2 victory at Watford on Tuesday.
Lukaku scored 11 in his first ten matches after his £75million summer transfer but is enduring a spell of just one in his last 11 appearances.
Meanwhile Ibrahimovic finally returned to first-team action earlier this month following seven months on the sideline with a cruciate knee ligament injury.
And Ferdinand believes the added competition plus Ibra's huge personality is weighing on the shoulders of the misfiring striker.
Speaking to BT Sport, the ex-defender said: "He'll come out of this.
"I think that maybe the bigger problem for him is Zlatan Ibrahimovic being there. Mentally, having a big striker behind you who wants to play, that's a pressure (coming) from within, and sometimes people find that hard to deal with."
Boss Jose Mourinho isn't deterred by his No1 striker failing to find the net - and joked that his boots are becoming the problem.
KEEPING IT TIGHT Manchester United boss Jose Mourinho brought Zlatan Ibrahimovic on to mark Watford keeper Heurelho Gomes
The Portuguese gaffer said: "I think he needs a big contract with boots because at this moment he doesn't have a deal with any brand – that's why he is playing with black boots.
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“He finished his deal and now he is waiting for the right offer. I think he needs a brand to give him the right boots so he goes back to scoring goals.
“But jokes apart, he works amazingly well. I couldn't be happier with him.”
Ashley Young, Anthony Martial and Jesse Lingard came to Lukaku's rescue at Vicarage Road to keep in touching distance of Man City at the top.