EUROPA LEAGUE - ZLATAN SAVES THE BLUSHES

EUROPA LEAGUE - Zlatan saves the blushes

Striker Scores With Man United's First Shot On Target

Zlatan Ibrahimovic has spent the last fifteen years avoiding the Europa League, but just when he appeared set to be dragged down by the ignominy of a dalliance with the Champions League's ugly sister, he rescued Manchester United from the embarrassment of a stalemate against Zorya Luhansk.

Not since facing FC Copenhagen with Ajax in 2001 has Ibrahimovic started in the Europa League, or the Uefa Cup as it once was.

But on a night when Jose Mourinho's United threatened to send Old Trafford to sleep, Ibrahimovic delivered when it mattered with a 67th minute goal which settled a dismal Group A encounter.

There can be no denying that Europa League nights are greeted with as much enthusiasm at United as a trip to the dentists.

The official line from Mourinho and the club hierarchy is that it remains European football and that the ultimate prize is silverware with a free pass into next season's Champions League. Having invested £150m in the squad this summer, United will expect to secure a return to the Champions League through the Premier League rather than place all their chips on winning this competition, which remains the only major trophy to elude the club.

But United are in it as a result of their fifth-placed finish last season and, if Thursday nights are a necessary evil, Mourinho and his players simply have to make the best of it.

But don't let anyone kid you that United want to be contesting fixtures with the likes of Zorya Luhansk.

Sixty years after meeting Anderlecht in the club's European fixture, Zorya claimed the distinction of being United's 100th European opponents, but the fact it was in the Europa League rather than Champions League summed up United's fall from grace in recent years.

They have gone from A-Z and ended up down a dead end street.

(toi)