Zlatan Ibrahimovic has 'so much quality', says Andy Cole

Emi Martinez is shown TWO yellow cards but little known rule means he AVOIDS being sent off for winding up Lille fans during penalty shootout… before Villa keeper saves decisive spot-kick
Liverpool failed but gave fans hope that the Jurgen Klopp era can still have a magical ending, writes LEWIS STEELE
West Ham gave everything against a team that appear to be invincible, writes KATHRYN BATTE as Xabi Alonso’s Bayer Leverkusen reach Europa League semis
PLAYER RATINGS: Two Liverpool stars score just 5/10 as Jurgen Klopp's side fail to deliver comeback against Atalanta to crash out of Europa League
Jurgen Klopp insists it's vital Liverpool are 'back to winning ways' amid Premier League title charge despite being knocked out of Europe by Atalanta… and says it's 'insane' that Trent started
The Premier League is poisoning our game and their hand in having FA Cup replays scrapped is another spoonful of arsenic down the throats of the smaller clubs, writes OLIVER HOLT
Arsenal and Man City count the cost of tired legs and weary minds, writes JACK GAUGHAN: Yes, Gunners were naive and Pep's boys wasteful, but fixture jam played a part in Champions League exits
Max Verstappen priced at 1/6 to make it four wins out of five this season at Chinese Grand Prix - with Lewis Hamilton 40/1 to secure his first victory since December 2021
Arsenal identify THREE positions to strengthen in the summer in wake of Champions League exit, with significant funds to be made available for transfers
EFL in UPROAR over decision to scrap FA Cup replays from next season - with surprised clubs branding it a 'DISGRACE' and furious executives claiming they will seek compensation
Ronald Araujo offers blunt response to Ilkay Gundogan's criticism that his red card against PSG fueled Champions League exit... amid toxic Barcelona dressing room split
For a man who has been handed everything, Lewis Hamilton needs to stop feeling sorry for himself
Liverpool lacked the 'belief' required to pull off comeback at Atalanta, says Peter Crouch after his former club crashed out of the Europa League as he insists Reds were 'disappointing'
Bayer Leverkusen boss Xabi Alonso hints that David Moyes calling his bench a 'disgrace' last week sparked bust-up with West Ham dugout in return leg that saw two assistant coaches sent off
Mo Salah's first-half miss proves crucial in Liverpool's Europa League defeat by Atalanta as Peter Crouch insists 'it's not that difficult' and proves the Egyptian is out of form
Emiliano Martinez's ludicrous antics detract from his enormous talent, writes TOM COLLOMOSSE as Aston Villa keeper's shootout heroics book Europa Conference League semi-final
Michail Antonio BLASTS officials in post-match rant following West Ham's Europa League loss to Bayer Leverkusen... as forward insists his side 'remained professional' despite frustrations
Emiliano Martinez claims it was his 'destiny' to be Aston Villa's shootout hero against Lille... as Argentine's antics help Unai Emery's side reach Europa Conference League semi-finals
West Ham assistant Billy McKinlay is SENT OFF after furious touchline row with Bayer Leverkusen staff... sparking a mass brawl among the players in chaotic Europa League clash
Peter Crouch reveals he was 'left SCREAMING for a red card' during Liverpool's crunch clash with Atalanta... after Isak Hien was spared sending off despite handball as last man
Premier League suffer yet ANOTHER critical blow in UEFA coefficient rankings after West Ham and Liverpool Europa League defeats... with hopes of earning an extra Champions League spot all but over
AC Milan players are confronted by the club's ultras after their defeat to Roma in the Europa League... as Stefano Pioli's side are knocked out the competition after 3-1 aggregate loss to rivals
'Is that for prisoners?': Liverpool fans left stunned by Atalanta's away end for crunch Europa League tie... with 1,000 Reds to be situated in the corner of the ground in frightful-looking stand
Haaland and De Bruyne had nothing left in gruelling Real Madrid loss and Rodri is begging for a rest... but who out of NINE players clocking 3,000-plus minutes has played the most? How Man City were run into the ground in quest for double treble

Manchester United chose to not extend Zlatan Ibrahimovic's contract in May
The 36-year-old helped United to a treble but missed the Europa League final
Ibrahimovic suffered a serious knee injury against Anderlecht in April
The Swede has returned to Old Trafford and could feature before the new year
Ex-United man Andy Cole says Ibrahimovic could be crucial this season

Published: 08:26 EDT, 14 October 2017 | Updated: 10:25 EDT, 14 October 2017

e-mail

Former Manchester United striker Andy Cole believes Zlatan Ibrahimovic could be just what Jose Mourinho needs as he attempts to plot United's resurgence to Premier League glory.

Mourinho takes his side to Liverpool on Saturday in what is United's first big test of the season after enjoying an unbeaten start to their Premier League campaign.

Ibrahimovic, though, will not feature despite the u-turn made on his Old Trafford career - something which Cole believes was an important decision.

Andy Cole has recently linked up with Zlatan Ibrahimovic in the gym at Manchester United

The prolific Swede has been labelled 'legendary' by former United striker Cole

ZLATAN AT UNITED

Time at club: July 2016-present

Transfer fee: Free from Paris St Germain

Games: 46

Goals: 28

Honours: 2017 Europa League, 2017 EFL Cup, 2017 Community Shield

ANDY COLE AT UNITED

Time at club: Jan 1995-Jan 2002

Transfer fee: £8.6m from Newcastle

Games: 270

Goals: 119

Honours: 1999 Champions League, 5x Premier League, 2x FA Cup, 2x Community Shield

'(Zlatan is doing) Really good. Back next year, I think, so he's done well really,' he told the Sun.

'He'll get games because he's got so much quality. And he's brilliant in the dressing room.

'I love Zlatan. He tells you how it is. He's legendary.'

The former Sweden international won the Community Shield and League Cup with United last season, while a serious knee injury saw him miss out on their Europa League final win over Ajax.

Following Mourinho's treble, Ibrahimovic was told his Old Trafford contract would not be renewed before returning to the Red Devils in August, however, he could feature again before the close of 2017.

The striker posted on Instagram on Friday seeming over the moon about his United return

The striker has recently posted an image on his Instagram account beaming with joy as he wrote: 'It's nice to be important but it's more important to be nice.'

But while being nice is important, United supporters will hope the 36-year-old can return to his previous form from last season which saw him score 17 goals in 28 league appearances.

'I am back to finish what I started. It was always mine and the club's intention for me to stay,' Ibrahimovic said.