Zlatan Ibrahimovic still suffering effects of long-term knee injury, says Jose Mourinho

Sign up to the Independent's betting newsletter for the latest tips and offers

Sign up to the Independent's betting newsletter

Please enter a valid email address

Please enter a valid email address

SIGN UP

I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice

Zlatan Ibrahimovic is “not injured” but the effects of his serious knee ligament problem mean he remains a doubt for Manchester United's final Champions League group stage against CSKA Moscow on Tuesday night, according to Jose Mourinho.

The Swedish striker, who recently completed his recovery from a serious knee ligament injury, missed Saturday's thrilling 3-1 victory over Arsenal at the Emirates.

Ibrahimovic was expected to return and potentially replace the misfiring Romelu Lukaku in attack on Tuesday, but Mourinho revealed that the 36-year-old's specific training program means he will not be available.

“Zlatan is not injured,” the United manager said. “Zlatan needs sometimes very hard work on the muscle area that supports the knee that had the problem.

“When the period for that hard work comes, fatigue comes. To work really hard for a certain period of time he cannot play for theses days, so we decide to do that."

“He's on this cycle of work divided between the gym and the pitch. He will be out again for tomorrow but back to normal after CSKA.

Mourinho added: “All the players who did not play the last match, they are all still out.”