Zlatan Ibrahimovic secured the Community Shield for FA Cup holders United with a late victor after Jamie Vardy’s second-half strike had cancelled out Jesse Lingard’s opener. His 83rd minute header, coming off an Antonio Valencia cross, was the ideal way for the Swedish striker to put an bad Euro behind him, and prove himself instrumental for his new club, on his first match, picking up his first title.
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After winning the FA Cup and now the Community Shield, United defender Daley Blind, who played the full 90 minutes in both games, says United are hungry for more silverware.
While Mourinho widely expected to see Ibrahimovic be an immediate success, he’s admitted that some of the players at the club have been surprised.
As Jose “I’m in my prime, believe me” Mourinho ditched his jumpers for a suit in the first competitive match of the season, an old acquaintance of his was left fuming (and not because of the jumpers). You can then just play your game and enjoy. I couldn’t take Zlatan or Fellaini off because Leicester’s “Rory Delap” throw-ins would win it.
“He needs the team to play and produce chances for him”.
It was Mata who made way, having only entered the fray in the 63rd minute, and the Spaniard, frozen out by Mourinho during their time at Chelsea, exchanged angry words with the United manager as he came off. But he insisted the Spain worldwide now understands why he was replaced.
“Zlatan is not a very fast player to play 50 metres away from the box like where Vardy can be unsafe”.
“But this group of 23 is a great group and I think in this moment – and I told them this – there is a little bit of frustration for the ones that I have not selected”. This is what we work hard for and sacrifice. We give our best and hope for a positive outcome. The forward had a quiet debut after signing on a free transfer from PSG this summer but has targeted more trophies after a winning start.
New Red Devils head coach Jose Mourinho acknowledged Lingard, saying that the midfielder got the start over another newcomer, Henrikh Mkhitaryan, in this match because he was the reason why the team is competing for the Community Shield to start the new season.
“This was a very important game for us – it was hard past year to reach the [FA Cup] final and win the cup, so it’s an honour if you can play this game”.
“This is my 31st trophy. Hopefully I can win much more than this”. “Our team has something big going on, it’s a good start”, Ibrahimović said.
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We honestly can’t begin to imagine what Mourinho has against the man. I feel very good.
