Zlatan Ibrahimovic limps off after nasty looking knee injury against Anderlecht that could end his Manchester United season
Manchester United team-mate Marcos Rojo was taken off on a stretcher in the first half
JOSE MOURINHO saw Manchester United fight their way into the Europa League semi-finals - but at a massive cost.
Zlatan Ibrahimovic was taken off after suffering a knee injury amidst worries that the warrior Swede may have played his last game at the Theatre of Dreams.
The stretcher came on but Zlatan Ibrahimovic was able to limp off
Ibra went down in agony after hyper-extending his right knee at the end of normal– as did Marcus Rojo earlier in the 2–1 extra-time win that gave United a 3-2 aggregate triumph over Anderlecht.
And while the Special One praised Marcus Rashford for sending his side into a first-ever Europa League semi final he showed he fears the worst.
That Ibra’s whole United future may be over after he limped off.
The 35 year old has so far refused to sign a new contract and depending on the extent of his injury that may never happen.
Mourinho said of Zlatan and Rojo: “My feelings are not good about these injuries.
“I know I should try to be optimistic but I am not.
“I am fairly negative although I will wait for the reports tomorrow.
“I am tired and my players are more tired than me.”
Rojo’s problem means that Mourinho has only one centre half in Eric Bailly.
Chris Smalling (knee) and Phil Jones (broken toe) are not due back till mid-May.
But with United in crisis as they bid for the Champions League on two fronts he said: “At this time I ask them to be brave – to take risks.
“Of course they cannot do miracles but I hope that they can do everything to play.”
Mourinho at least had a smile for Rashford who scored the opener last Sunday in the 2-0 win over Chelsea.
He said : “This is a player who had not scored since September but I stuck with him and I stuck with him because I trust him.
“I had faith and he showed me that I was right to feel this way about him.”