A superb goal by Zlatan Ibrahimovic on his Premier League debut helped Manchester United to a 3-1 victory at Bournemouth yesterday in Jose Mourinho’s first league game in charge of his new club.
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United captain Rooney picked out strike partner Ibrahimovic for praise after the Swede continued his run of scoring on his debut competition appearance by finding the net on his first games in the Champions League, La Liga, Serie A and Ligue 1. “It’s three points against a very hard opponent and I don’t think there’s any doubt we deserved to win”.
United, without suspended world-record signing Paul Pogba, struggled for any real control to begin with as Bournemouth pressed and kept possession well, though Callum Wilson fired the home side’s best early opening high and wide.
“It was a hard game”. Being new to the league is not easy.
“We weren’t at 100 per cent but in the second half it became easier”, Ibrahimovic told Sky Sports. The first objective is to win, it’s also good if I score. “The team was very solid and very compact”, said the United boss.
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Dismissed by Chelsea last December, Mourinho took over after the Dutchman was sacked at the end of his second season despite winning the FA Cup in his final game. It’s just the start; we need to improve every day. “This guy (Ibrahimovic) is more than a player”, Mourinho said. “But if he plays like he’s playing now, they have to love him because he’s being so important for us”. “He’s played in different leagues throughout Europe and scored in all of them and I’ve no doubt he’ll continue to score for us”.
