Scout Notes – EFL Cup Final

That man Zlatan Ibrahimovic grabs the glory as Manchester United snatch the season’s first silverware from a luckless Southampton.

Manchester United 3 Southampton 2

Goals from Zlatan Ibrahimovic started and finished an exhilarating EFL Cup Final that, on any other day, could well have been won by the Saints.

The Swede made it six strikes from his last four Europa League and domestic cup matches – he’s managed just one in four league fixtures – as United saw off a strong Southampton comeback from 2-0 down just before half-time.

In the light of two blanks in three Gameweeks, Ibrahimovic has been sold by more than 4% of his ownership base. The 35.6% who have remained loyal will hope to reap the rewards when United entertain a struggling Bournemouth side this Saturday.

Conversely, another striker who scored twice at Wembley, Southampton’s Manolo Gabbiadini, has seen his ownership figures bloom despite the Saints also missing both Gameweeks 26 and 28.

Snapped up by over 131,000 last week, he’s already been acquired by 52,000+ since Saturday’s deadline passed – at least twice the number of transfers in than any other player.

A cup final brace made it five goals from just three starts since a late January move from Napoli and he has transformed a Southampton side who had been struggling without an out-and-out striker since Charlie Austin was injured in early December.

While Gabbiadini clearly has the form, his side’s fixtures are another story. They will need to quickly shake off their EFL Cup disappointment when they travel to an improving Watford at the weekend before a blank and then a trip to Spurs round out a patchy short-term schedule.

Two double Gameweeks to come offers the promise to come, but they will involve tough home matches with Arsenal and United.

Southampton were very unlucky not to open the scoring at Wembley when Gabbiadini’s finish was ruled out because Ryan Bertrand was controversially adjudged to have been offside.

An Ibrahimovic free-kick, following a foul on Ander Herrera, and a Jesse Lingard finish from a Marcos Rojo assist merely served to enhance Saints’ feelings of injustice before Gabbiadini netted from Cedric Soares’ pass just before the break.

The Italian leveled three minutes after the re-start, Oriol Romeu hit the post and David de Gea was forced into a couple of fine saves as United hung on before Ibrahimovic headed home a Herrera cross in the 87th minute to win the match.

That United rode their luck is not in doubt. How Fantasy managers utilise the team’s assets looks equally clear-cut.

The Gameweek 28 blank surely demands patience before a string of attractive fixtures, involving trips to Middlesbrough and Sunderland and home matches with West Brom and Everton, lead up to a Gameweek 33 clash with Chelsea.

Manchester United XI: de Gea, Valencia, Bailly, Smalling, Rojo, Herrera, Pogba, Mata (Carrick 45), Lingard (Rashford 77), Martial (Fellaini 90), Ibrahimovic.
Subs not used: Romero, Blind, Young, Rooney.

Southampton XI: Forster, Soares, Stephens, Yoshida, Bertrand, Ward-Prowse, Romeu, Davis (Rodriguez 90), Redmond, Tadic (Boufal 77), Gabbiadini (Long 83).
Subs not used: Hassen, McQueen, Caceres, Hojbjerg.