Paul Pogba was thrilled to make a winning return for Manchester United on Friday night.
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Zlatan Ibrahimovic scored twice and Paul Pogba excelled in his first game back at Manchester United as the team’s high-profile offseason signings starred in a 2-0 win over Southampton in the Premier League on Friday.
“We need to get used to winning”, said Ibrahimovic, “the mental part is important”.
It was Pogba that had the game’s first shot on target in the 13th minute after a positive start from the Red Devils, but the midfielder’s effort was always comfortable for Saints goalkeeper Fraser Forster. “Everything was so good, as an individual he was so good, collectively he is learning how to play with us, but I am really happy. We won comfortably and the result could have been bigger”, Mourinho told Sky Sports.
Speaking afterwards, Southampton boss Puel lamented: “We have a lot of regrets, because we had many situations and created some good opportunities, but we didn’t take them and score”. But he’s great with his feet.
The France worldwide shot to the top of Jose Mourinho’s wish list following the arrivals of Eric Bailly, Henrikh Mkhitaryan and Ibrahimovic.
“It was the first game for Paul [Pogba] and the rest will come”. It’s the beginning and we need to get to know each other.
“There were lots of things that were positive for the future”.
Pogba, making his first United appearance since a 5-0 win at Wolverhampton Wanderers in March 2012, lined up alongside Marouane Fellaini at the base of midfield in a 4-2-3-1 formation. There didn’t seem any hesitation when Ibrahimovic took the ball and placed it on the spot, and Mourinho confirmed after the match that the striker had replaced Rooney as United’s first-choice penalty-taker.
Zlatan, smiling, then said: “Next time, pass!”
Mourinho had not meant to use Pogba for the full 90 minutes but saw no reason to call an early end to his happy homecoming.
He opened the scoring with a towering header in the 36th minute and slotted a penalty shortly after half-time to follow up his debut strike against Bournemouth last weekend.
The visitors had another half-chance in the 26th minute when Shane Long turned and struck towards the bottom corner after a unsafe free kick from Steven Davis, but the Irishman’s effort just missed the post.
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The Swedish striker scored from a Wayne Rooney cross and a penalty draw by Luke Shaw, and Ibrahimovic credited his teammates for putting him in good position to score.
