Zlatan Ibrahimovic will miss AC Milan’s Europa League showdown with Manchester United.
BBC Sport report Zlatan has sustained a groin injury which will cause him to miss both games of the matches to be played on March 11 and 18. He is expected to miss three to four weeks.
For the neutral, this is a blow, as seeing Zlatan go up against United was one of the big attractions of the tie.
Even from a United fan perspective it would have been good to see him return to Old Trafford again, even without supporters in attendance.
His United career was ruined by an ACL injury sustained in the Europa League, and now he has had more bad luck.
Works in United’s favour
This time an injury to Zlatan Ibrahimovic is actually good news for Manchester United.
Milan are a dangerous team, but they are far less dangerous without Zlatan leading the line, even though he is now 39.
The Europa League presents a real chance of silverware for United. Milan remain an obstacle in United’s path – just a less dangerous one.
Impacts United’s approach
This injury is a bad one for Milan, as they just don’t have a player capable of stepping up into Zlatan’s role.
Mario Mandzukic could play a part, but the 34-year-old has not made a single start yet since signing for Milan in January following a year playing in Qatar.
Aside from this, Milan don’t have a striker who has scored goals aside from Zlatan this season.
The Swede has 14 goals in all competitions, he is the only player in their side on double figures. Midfielder Franck Kessie has scored nine goals, and winger Rafael Leao has six.
Leao can play in the centre and is probably Milan’s most likely alternative to Zlatan.
While Milan must be taken seriously, they are not a side United have to fear, not with Zlatan out.
United have taken a defensive approach in big games this season, controversially leading to a series of 0-0 scorelines. Solskjaer can take the shackles off here.
Hopefully with Paul Pogba back in the starting line-up as he returns from injury, United’s attacking qualities can begin to be unleashed.
While a lot of the dramatic element to the tie will be lost without Zlatan, games could become more open, if it prompts United to take a more attacking approach.
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