Zlatan & Pogba’s interview after Man Utd’s last Carabao Cup win will always be comedy gold
Manchester United will look to win their first domestic trophy in six years when they take on Newcastle in the Carabao Cup on Sunday afternoon.
When the Red Devils last raised a trophy on home soil, it was in the final of the same competition, as Jose Mourinho guided them to a 3-2 victory over Southampton at Wembley in 2017.
United looked to be cruising to victory as the match entered stoppage-time at the end of the first-half, thanks to goals from Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Jesse Lingard.
However, Saints striker Manolo Gabbiadini turned the game on its head with a quick-fire brace either side of the break to bring Claude Puel’s men level.
The match appeared to be heading for extra-time with the score locked at 2-2 as the clock ticked towards the 90-minute mark, before Ibrahimovic found a late winner for United to cap a Man of the Match display.
It was yet another moment of glory during the 2016/17 season for the charismatic Swede, who found the net on 28 occasions for United across the campaign.
Not a bad return for a player who the club had signed on a free transfer the previous summer after his departure from Paris Saint-Germain.
When interviewed alongside Paul Pogba – an £89 million arrival from Juventus in the same transfer window – Zlatan couldn’t resist poking fun at the French midfielder over their respective price tags.
You can check out the brilliant exchange below.
Video: Zlatan Ibrahimovic’s cheeky swipe Paul Pogba after the 2016/17 Carabao Cup final
When asked by Sky Sports to explain how big of a difference maker Ibrahimovic was for United, Pogba simply replied: “That’s why we bought him!”
Never one to miss out on the spotlight, Zlatan quickly corrected his teammate: “Bought me?! I came here for free. They bought you, I came here for free!”
The United frontman was then quizzed on whether his first trophy at United would be the start of something special.
In his own trademark fashion, Ibrahimovic declared: “I came [to the club]. That’s special!”
The pair would go on to win the Europa League with later that season, but the 13-time Premier League champions have gone trophyless since.
Man Utd’s transformation under Erik ten Hag
Although Ibrahimovic was on fire during his debut season for United, he struggled badly in his second campaign, scoring just once before leaving the club in March 2018.
Pogba also had his fair share of difficulties after an encouraging first season back at Old Trafford.
When his contract expired at the end of last season, he departed the club on a free transfer to return to Juventus – where he has still yet to kick a ball in a competitive match since re-signing.
The Frenchman is one of a host of big names to have exited the ‘Theatre of Dreams’ in recent years.
In fact, of the matchday squad named by Mourinho for the 2017 final, only David de Gea, Eric Bailly (currently on loan at Marseille), Anthony Martial and Marcus Rashford are still on United’s books.
Ten Hag has brought in a host of international superstars following his arrival from Ajax over the summer – and the likes of Lisandro Martinez, Casemiro and Antony will be intent on helping United to win the first available piece of silverware of the season.
