Manchester United’s Zlatan Ibrahimovic: I am like Indiana Jones

The Manchester United striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic has compared his history of success to the fictional archaeologist and adventurer Indiana Jones.

The 35-year-old has lived up to the hype since arriving at Old Trafford in the summer and took his goal tally to 23 in all competitions on Thursday.

Ibrahimovic’s first hat-trick for the club saw St Étienne put to the sword at Old Trafford as José Mourinho’s men ran out 3-0 victors in the first leg of their Europa League last-32 tie.

United are favourites to win the competition, just as they are for the upcoming EFL Cup final against Southampton, and the veteran Swede is determined to win more silverware.

“Every trophy for me is incredible, everywhere I came I won so if I can win something here I will be super happy,” he said. “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.”

Thursday’s hat-trick was the 17th of his career and took his goal tally against St Étienne alone to 17.

“It feels good,” Ibrahimovic said. “I got a lot of help from my team-mates. We played an open game 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. I’ve scored a couple of goals against them, I don’t focus on specific opponents, I just try to do my job, try to do what I am good at.”

Not everybody wearing red on Thursday can say they did their job, leading Mourinho to express his anger at their first-half display. It was in the end, though, a solid first-leg victory against a decent side that few expect to overturn the deficit in France next Wednesday.

Put to Ibrahimovic that a clean sheet was important, the former Paris St Germain striker said: “Exactly. A good result because I know how difficult it is to play over there. They have a fantastic crowd, fantastic support, and the stadium is very nice, so the guys will see it when we go there. It was important today to get a good result.

“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.”