A simple boot change could hold the key to an uptick in Zlatan’s form

Wasteful in possession, a dismal first touch... it was almost as if Zlatan Ibrahimovic was impersonating the recent form of one of Manchester United's other thirty-odd-year-old strikers during the first 45 minutes of the EFL meeting with Manchester City on Wednesday night.

The big Swede was so off the pace it prompted some to go as far as saying this was the worst 45 minutes in his entire career. After the break, things were better. He wasn't at his best, but there was a marked improvement from him as he set up a chance for Paul Pogba and assisted Juan Mata's winning goal. Eagle-eyed viewers have put forward a theory as to why the 35-year-old upped his game. As pointed out by several keen observers of the match, Zlatan actually switched boots at half time. No, we don't mean that he'd got his left and right boots mixed up (although the way he played in that first half that doesn't sound too far fetched), we mean that he switched his pair of boots. Look, here he is in the first half with a pair of adidas boots... And here he is in the second half, wearing Nike. Looks like Zlatan will be sticking with the Nikes if he's given the nod to start against Burnley on Saturday.