Juan Mata and Rooney’s goals had earlier put United in command before Bournemouth defender Adam Smith added what proved only to be a consolation.
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Manchester United, clad all in white, were dominant from the off, holding onto possession but Bournemouth had their wits about them, pressing quickly.
Further additions might be unlikely having signed Eric Bailly, Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Henrikh Mkhitaryan and Paul Pogba for a combined fee of £146 million, but the same can’t be said for potential departures.
And Herrera, Mata and goalkeeper David de Gea were among a number of the United squad to post pictures on Instagram to celebrate their first victory of the season. “Playing in Spain, for Villarreal is different to Man U”, he said. United went top. Just 90 minutes into the new season – but the last time it happened to a Mourinho team they did not relinquish the position until the title was won. Rooney added the second after the interval.
“It’s always important to win your first game”.
Wayne Rooney headed the second before Zlatan Ibrahimovic marked his United league debut with a goal from 25 yards.
“Pogba is very good, he’s a phenomenal player”, said Mourinho. “But I found immediately a team who want to work and win matches and titles, as well as making fans proud”.
Ibrahimovic admitted it is not always easy to adapt to a new league, so he was happy to get off to a winning and scoring start in England. Mourinho is believed to still be in the mindset that Mata is not defensive enough for his style of play as reported in the Daily Mail, and is also believed to be looking to move the player on before the end of the transfer window.
But he said: “It was an important goal, a clever goal, a goal by somebody with a natural instinct to play football”. I thought we played some good stuff, especially in the second half. You’re never quite where you want to be, I’m sure that will come after a few games. “We prepared well the players we have in, but I think you have to consider we have been a bit unlucky as well”.
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Fellaini also talked about his new teammates and praised their performances, “The new guys are good and bring quality”. Slowly, I’m getting settled in and just playing my game.
