United’s youngsters – Luke Shaw and Marcus Rashford among them – sit with the 34-year-old striker at meal times, looking to extract as much wisdom as they can from one of the superstars of world football. Everything is new for me.
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“The game was on a knife-edge until the first goal”, Howe said.
Ibrahimovic now has two goals in two United games, following his victor in the FA Community Shield against Leicester City.
Fellaini made his mark in preseason, scoring in the 5-2 friendly win over Galatasaray, and has gone on to play 90 minutes for United in both the Community Shield against Leicester City then the opening Premier League game: a 3-1 win against Bournemouth. “So I thought 3-0, game over; not over”.
That’s something of a stretch – Ibrahimovic might have been at his best during spells in Italy with Inter and AC Milan and with PSG last season – but he is certainly going to be a valuable member of United’s squad if his start to the season is anything to go by. His strike partnership with Wayne Rooney lacks pace but is certainly not lacking in technique, game intelligence and physicality.
In the absence of Paul Pogba, their world record signing, United eased to victory after Mata punished a awful mistake by Bournemouth defender Simon Francis just before half-time and Rooney added the second after the interval.
Hailing defender Eric Bailly’s Premier League bow, Mourinho also revealed he had been gripped by pre-match nerves on leading United into the new campaign.
And Zlatan Ibrahimovic marked his Premier League debut with a goal, driving home United’s third 4 minutes later.
He said his side’s priority was winning the Premier League or at least finishing in the top four to earn Champions League qualification for the following season.
“The way the goal’s come about was a hard one to take, because it looked as though we’d got away with the mistake, and then for the unlucky ricochet we concede”.
He also helped the club achieve back-to-back domestic trebles. “He had a good strike against Bournemouth and it was a great goal, he has been to different leagues throughout Europe and has always scored so there is no doubt he will continue to score for us”.
It was a typically immodest statement. This guy is more than a player.
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For the moment, though, he is still adapting to life in England. “But I found immediately a team who want to work and win matches and titles, as well as making fans proud”.
