Jose Mourinho’s reign in charge of Manchester United got off to the flawless start as his side opened their pre-season campaign with a 2-0 win over Wigan on Saturday.
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United fans chanted Mourinho’s name seconds into the match and he was given a huge ovation as he waved toward supporters after the final whistle.
Interestingly, Ivory Coast defender Bailly, a new arrival from Villarreal, played longer than any other outfield player, seeing out 82 minutes of the contest, as Mourinho presumably attempts to acclimatise him to the English game.
“There’s been a lot of football and fun at the right times, and I think everyone’s enjoying it. When you get a new manager, pre-season is always a little bit different because it’s a new personality and new ways”.
Goals from Will Keane and Andreas Pereira secured a 2-0 win for United, in what was a particularly emotional match for Shaw.
“I’m happy because there were things we tried in training around some principles of our play defensively and offensively and I could see them”.
Nine minutes later United were two up as Ander Herrera’s shot from Ashley Young’s free-kick fell kindly for Pereira, who lashed an unstoppable shot into the top-left corner, before Mourinho’s men saw the game out easily.
Henrikh Mkhitaryan insists he is happy with any role given to him by Jose Mourinho after making his debut at Wigan Athletic.
“There was the manifestation of happiness [from them] about a few things they could see in the team which was absolutely fantastic”.
“I’m just looking forward and to carry on doing what I did previous year from the start”, said Shaw.
The United manager looked bashful at one stage during the adulation and Mourinho wants United’s raucous following to show as much appreciation for his players. “He has showed the potential we saw when we made a decision to buy him”.
However it is Mourinho’s sense of humour that United fans have immediately made a connection.
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Mourinho will now welcome back the remaining 14 worldwide players to Old Trafford this week ahead of Tuesday’s departure to China where his team plays Dortmund in Shanghai and a Manchester derby meeting with City in Beijing.
