Zlatan Ibrahimovic has explained how the past achievements of Sir Alex Ferguson loomed over the club even after his retirement.
The United great lifted 38 trophies during his 26-year reign, including 13 Premier League titles and two Champions Leagues. The expectation of success weighed heavily on the club after his 2013 exit, according to Ibrahimovic.
The Sweden icon arrived at Old Trafford in 2016 and won the Community Shield that year as well as the Europa League and League Cup in 2017. United have failed to earn any silverware since.
READ MORE: Manchester United have a plan for Cristiano Ronaldo's second season
Speaking to the Gabs and Juls show, the 40-year-old explained that he tried to dismiss the pressure of Sir Alex’s past achievements. He said: "I came to a club that used to win, I came to a club that is known to have big players, known to have a big mentality, a winning mentality.
“So when I came there everyone was speaking about ‘when Sir Alex Ferguson was here it was not like that, when Sir Alex Ferguson was here it was not like that’. I said I'm not here for Sir Alex Ferguson, with all respect for him.
“I'm here for my own story because if I don't win I fail so when I came in, I tried to bring what I'm good at on and off the field.” Ibrahimovic described how these mumblings quietened when United lifted three trophies in his first season in England.
The AC Milan striker added: “I wanted to win at any clubs, I was playing at one of the biggest clubs in the world. I had Mourinho as a coach, players I hadn't played with before and that season we won three trophies.
“When you win nobody can say nothing because that is the moment you show everyone the answer for what you're working for, believing in and nobody says nothing. After that, I left after two seasons.
“The second year I had problems with my injury and from there things were different but I cannot judge if I'm not there, I judge where I am."
Sign up to our United newsletter so you never miss an update from Old Trafford this season.
