5 reasons why Jose Mourinho has the edge over Pep Guardiola

#3 A hungry Zlatan

Manchester United v Southampton - EFL Cup Final — Zlatan Ibrahimovic is expected to return to lead Manchester United before the end of the season

The January transfer window is likely to be a pivotal point in the season, but Mourinho has already grabbed an early sale. Zlatan Ibrahimovic had a huge impact upon his arrival last season and defied his age to become one of United's most influential and important players.

His long-term injury means that he is currently cutting a frustrated figure in the gym and on the sidelines, but he will be back in time to push for the honours that United will inevitably be challenging for, and he will be desperate to make up for lost time.

And with Mourinho's side expected to be challenging on a number of fronts, his return will be a timely boost. There is no doubt that Guardiola will also be keen to strengthen his squad yet again once the window opens, but Ibrahimovic is already well-versed in Mourinho's methods and will hit the ground running with the team in the most effective of positions. Guardiola will do well to find himself a similar addition.

About the author

As a freelance football writer, I have extensive experience of covering the European game for a wide range of top level digital platforms and printed publications.

I have performed a number of exclusive interviews with some of the biggest names in the football world, and have reported live from the finals of UEFA EURO, Champions League fixtures, Europa League fixtures, Women's Champions League fixtures as well as top international and club fixtures during the course of my career.

My role has enabled me to sit down exclusively with the likes of Thierry Henry, Edgar Davids, Gareth Bale, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, Ryan Giggs, Aaron Ramsey and many others to discuss their experiences of competing at the very highest-level.

For Sportskeeda, I will be taking a closer look at the stories behind the stories from across the European game, with regular exclusive features on the players, clubs and managers making the headlines.

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Edited by Amit Mishra