Zlatan Ibrahimovic Named Player Of The Month For December
Jan 13, 2017 at 6:34 PM
Manchester United striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic has been voted as Premier League’s Player of the Month for December.
The Swedish striker enjoyed a terrific month up top for a rejuvenated United, scoring five goals in the month as his team went unbeaten.
Congratulations to December’s @EASPORTSFIFA Player of the Month – @ManUtd‘s @Ibra_official pic.twitter.com/k407SgnALR
— Premier League (@premierleague) January 13, 2017
The giant Swede also provided three assists as he helped Manchester United towards an unbeaten run of 15 games and nine consecutive wins in all competitions.
He netted in a 1-1 draw at Everton and in a 2-1 win at Crystal Palace before bagging both goals in a 2-0 victory over West Brom. His final goal of December was scored in a 3-1 home win over Sunderland.
No player scored more than Ibrahimovic in the month, whose tally for the season now stands at 13 after he also netted against West Ham on Jan. 2.
However, Friday’s individual award is unlikely to mean much to the forward, who said earlier in the week that he is far more interested in team honours.
“I have no individual targets because that I did already, after three months in England. I conquered England – it took three months,” Ibrahimovic said.
“I’m chasing the head trophy – the Premier League. That is my aim.
“The individual things come as part of the main objective because that is like a bonus for every individual player. If the collective does well, then the individuals will do well.”
Fellow Manchester United summer signing Henrikh Mkhitaryan also claimed one of the monthly awards, with his scorpion kick goal against Sunderland picking up the Goal of the Month gong.
More Goal of the Month joy for @HenrikhMkh – his stunning effort v Sunderland has been named the best in the @PremierLeague during December! pic.twitter.com/Ytuo2md44y
— Manchester United (@ManUtd) January 13, 2017
Ibrahimovic cross a ball in from the right and Mkhitaryan flicked at the ball from behind him from his heel, giving goalkeeper Jordan Pickford no chance. Replays showed the Armenia international should have been flagged offside, but the goal stood.
A number of Arsenal fans were critical of the decision, although Olivier Giroud’s similar finish against Crystal Palace actually came in January so was ineligible.