Zlatan Ibrahimovic Experiences Scoring Drought

As the fans drifted away from Old Trafford wondering how they’d not seen their team win on Saturday, Manchester United’s dressing room was close to silence after the 0-0 draw against Burnley. The players felt that they’d given it their all and with 37 shots in an entertaining match, they had. At no time since 2003 have United had more attempts on goal — the problem was that none of them went in.

Jose Mourinho, who’d been sent off, said a few words and then went to congratulate each of the Burnley players. They’d defended well, with two former United players, goalkeeper Tom Heaton and defender Michael Keane, outstanding.

The last time Burnley stopped United scoring at Old Trafford was 95 years ago.

Zlatan Ibrahimovic would usually offer a voice. Though only at the club since July, he has quickly won respect and influence among his peers. He was a big time performer wherever he’d been, from Barcelona to both Milan clubs, Ajax to PSG. But at Manchester United he hasn’t scored in his last six league games.

United bought a classic Ferrari model with a faultless history and while it still works, the spark has gone of late. But then the car is being asked to drive along a mountain path rather than a motorway. Manchester United’s team in 2016 is anything but a well-oiled machine.

Ibrahimovic’s goal drought sums up United’s lack of fortune. He thought he’d be playing alongside an effective Wayne Rooney. That didn’t go to plan. He thought he’d have Anthony Martial, United’s best outfield player last term, setting him up for fun. He thought he be getting better service from the many talented players around him under the tutelage of a manger he trusts. Or that he’d be playing on a team with a more settled system. That has happened enough, either, though the Swede isn’t blameless for not scoring. His twitter account still lists his address as being in Paris, which is where he left his goalscoring boots after netting 50 times last season.

United’s giant No. 9 missed big chances against Liverpool, Chelsea, City and Burnley, though he still had the confidence to make a scissor kick so powerful it injured Heaton. When Marcus Rashford crossed superbly for him in front of the Stretford End against City last Wednesday, he was in a perfect position to score. He mistimed it and if disquiet among fans hasn’t yet turned into a push for Marcus Rashford, who turned 19 today, to start as the main striker, it will if Ibra’s goal drought continues.

Ibrahimovic is not playing badly. His link up play with Juan Mata and Paul Pogba both in the Manchester derby and on Saturday showed the mark of a top quality player. There’s little sign of fatigue despite his 35 years. Every striker goes through a dry patch, too. Robin van Persie, who scored twice on Sunday’s as United’s next opponents Fenerbahce beat Karabukspor 5-0, went 10 league games without a goal in the title winning 2012-13 season. Mourinho thinks the goals will come by playing him every week. The fans have not lost faith either, as shirts with his name remain the number one best seller.

As with his manager, detractors motivate him, but it’s not unfair to ask questions of a man who has played every minute of every league games this season but hasn’t scored since the Manchester derby on 10th September. Since then, he’s had more shots than any other Premier League striker has had all season.

Whatever the reasons and excuses, from a slippery Old Trafford pitch to refereeing decisions, Manchester United are eighth in England’s Premier League after 10 games, below a Watford team who’ve not even played well since they beat United in September. United have picked up six points from the last 21 available.

United’s overall total is 15 points, five fewer than at this stage last season. The goal difference is a paltry plus-2, yet this is also the norm. United have been between 8th and 10th in the league after 10 games in three of the last four seasons as the team quickly became also-rans and never made up ground. A fourth place finish would be the minimum requirement from this season in the league, yet the team are already seven points off Chelsea in fourth and can’t come close to the goalscoring power of the leading four. United have managed 13 goals in 10 games. All the leading four have scored more than 21.

It’s all so disappointing. Surprising, too, given the club spent so much and brought in a manager who achieves success with the consistency that Ibrahimovic usually scores goals.

United’s luck is out, too. The injuries have started to add up. Eric Bailly, the best player so far this season, is out. Antonio Valencia, another defender who has impressed, is also unavailable. Another defender Chris Smalling has been out, but Phil Jones is back and it wouldn’t surprise if he featured this week. Bastian Schweinsteiger, hitherto ostracised by his manager, has also been training with the first team.

The Burnley result wouldn’t be a problem in isolation. Every team drops points, but it was the third game in which United have failed to score.

In several polls among hardcore fans, United fans considered their team favourites for the league two months ago. In one on United We Stand, over 70 percent said the team would finished fourth, fifth or sixth, with only 20 percent now predicting a top three finish.

There is hope from history. The last time Ibrahimovic went six games without a goal was December 2007, when he played for Roberto Mancini at Inter Milan.

Ibrahimovic still ended up as Inter’s leading scorer and Inter ended up with the Serie A title.