Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho, who had already hailed star striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic's 'phenomenal' game earlier in the week, has further saluted the Swede as he continues to thrive despite reaching 35 years of age.
The big man's double came from a coolly dispatched header and a deflected strike into the corner from just inside the penalty area. The goals take him to sixteen already this campaign.
Zlatan Ibrahimovic: 16 goals for #MUFC before Christmas. 
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"He is playing amazingly well but even in the period he was not scoring goals he was important for us," Mourinho said toSky Sports, reiterating a point he has often made recently.
"We bought him for more than just to score goals. In the last two matches he scores three goals and we get six points in two away matches."
As a central striker,Ibrahimovic arrived at Manchester United with a lot of pressure to succeed.
"We communicate and exchange ideas about his situation, his feelings and up to now he is feeling great."
"I am very lucky as he is not just a normal player. He is not a player who plays in a position where he can hide a little bit. He plays with experience."
Jesse Lingard's life flashed before his eyes when he saw Zlatan Ibrahimovic coming... pic.twitter.com/FQZLFDo5FO
"Amazing central defenders can play until they are they are really old but a striker you cannot hide - and he is doing really well."
Mourinho did not find himself too surprised by the impact that Ibrahimovic has made in such a short period of time at United.
"I was expecting that because I knew the reasons why he was coming."
"He was not coming for the wrong reasons. He was not coming for the money, he was not coming for the prestige. He was coming to enjoy his football and play for one of the best teams in the world."