nManchester United striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic admitted that he may have handled the ball in the buildup to Paul Pogba’s goal in the 2-1 win over Crystal Palace on Wednesday night.
Pogba’s strike, which also looked offside, gave United a 1-0 lead — before Ibrahimovic himself struck late on, from the Frenchman’s pass, to seal a 2-1 win at Selhurst Park.
When asked if there was a handball, the Swede told BT Sport: “Could be, could be, but the situation was fast. I just tried to get the ball forward to Paul because I saw he was free.
“I think it touched the hand a little bit and then the stomach. I need to see the images.”
Discussing his late winner, Ibrahimovic said: “I would prefer to do it earlier but it was a great ball from Paul and I tried to hit the goal and — luck or not — it went in.”
Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho said he never had a doubt that Ibrahimovic would be a success in the Premier League after taking his tally to 14 for the season.
“I knew the character because at this age it is the passion, the personality that plays,” Mourinho said. “The quality is there, I knew he could do well here.
“I told him that England is not the best for holidays, you come here for the most difficult league in the world, his decision to come here was based on that.
“His motivation, his goals, he is really good.”
It was a night of controversy as United defender Marcos Rojo made a reckless challenge but was not sent off by referee Craig Pawson in the first half.
Decisions went against United in the second half, as Palace’s Joe Ledley handled in the area but was not punished, then Juan Mata soon had a goal disallowed incorrectly for offside.
Pogba, who was booked for dissent after the incidents, said: “In football, sometimes the referee makes mistakes, but you have to carry on playing, you know.
“We had some great saves as well from David [De Gea]. The game could have gone both ways but we had more chances than them.
“We had to win. To play here, at this stadium, we knew it was going to be difficult but we did it today. Sometimes you don’t play very well and you win — and those three points were very important.”
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