Zlatan Ibrahimovic has joked that he will not let Paul Pogba take another free kick for Manchester United after failing to score against Tottenham.
The world's most expensive player hit the post from almost 30 yards as United looked to close out their win at Old Trafford, with the striker stepping aside from his usual set-piece duties.
Fellow summer signing Henrikh Mkhitaryan broke the deadlock in the first half with a fine finish after latching on to Ander Herrera's through ball, but Ibrahimovic has warned that others may not get a chance from free kicks following Pogba's narrow miss.
"I said to Paul: 'You better shoot in the goal as this is the last free kick I will give you,'" Ibrahimovic joked to MUTV.
"If it goes in, it would give you more space, not to calm down but you feel more confident when you are 2-0 up. You never know after the last games - it would have been sad to concede."
United's 1-0 win was their first in four games in the Premier League following three 1-1 draws, and Ibrahimovic underlined the importance to get back to winning ways ahead of the busy festive fixture list.
He added: "It was very important because in the latest games we didn't get the outcome we wanted after good performances. The team has been playing well but if you do well and don't get the win, it feels like you did well for nothing.
"The positive thing is we didn't lose, we won and against a top opponent ... it is the perfect combination."
Jose Mourinho & Co. now face two away trips to Crystal Palace and West Brom before rounding off the year at home to Sunderland and Middlesbrough.