Zlatan Ibrahimovic admits his first season at Manchester United is taking its toll

With United having won the EFL Cup and now battling on dual fronts the 35-year-old has already made 44 appearances in his first year in English football

Zlatan Ibrahimovic has thrived despite being an almost ever-present for Manchester United this term (Getty)

Zlatan Ibrahimovic admits his first season at Manchester United is taking its toll.

With United having won the EFL Cup and now battling on two fronts at home and abroad the 35-year-old has already made 44 appearances in his first year in English football.

Ibrahimovic has flourished, however, scoring 28 goals in all competitions and will again be key in United's ongoing battle for a place in next Champions League which continues today when they welcome league-leaders Chelsea to Old Trafford.

United are still well in the hunt for a top four spot and currently sit six points adrift of Liverpool with two games in hand and the Swede is confident they have what it takes to finish the season strong and achieve their goals.

"We have one month to go, it's many games we play," the Swede said. "I have been playing almost all the games. But we are still grinding, we are still pushing because we have this Europa League and the end of the Premier League. We fight for it."

Asked about Chelsea, he added: "I think they are a good team.

"Overall a good team and then of course they are playing once a week which makes a difference also because at the end of the season, I don't know how many games we have in total but I think we have much more than them.

"They haven't been playing in Europe this season and they went out from the League Cup early. But they have a great team, or else they would not be number one."


 Ibrahimovic has enjoyed a fine season for United 
 (Getty)

United are unbeaten in the league since a 4-0 thumping in the reverse fixture against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge in October, but Ibrahimovic insists that run counts for little.

"I would prefer to be first in the league and not having this record," he added. "It doesn't give us anything, this record."