“But we need to be fighting for titles and I think they’ve got a good chance this year, I really do. I hope to continue like this and get better and keep winning”.
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Pogba lasted the full game, despite having not played since France’s loss to Portugal in the European Championship final on July 10.
Swedish striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic broke the deadlock in the 34th minute with a powerful header which beat Southampton goalkeeper Fraser Forster. We have a new coach, new staff, some new players.
In fact, the weakest link for Manchester United in attack, was their talisman and club captain Wayne Rooney who simply isn’t as good as he used to be.
The margin may have been only two goals, but the gulf in class between the teams was much larger. “Not only on the physical part so we’re happy, we’re happy for the three points and the first game at home also, we need to settle in – the rest will come by itself”. Mourinho put no such restriction on Ibrahimovic, although the hand-over appears to have been amicable. “That was decided long before”.
Mourinho said: “He is very good in the air but he is very good with his feet”.
Mourinho was appointed as manager in May after Louis van Gaal was sacked, with an FA Cup triumph not enough to save his job following inconsistent league form and huge criticism from supporters over the team’s style. The Belgian midfielder had not expected to survive the summer.
But the Special One said he always had faith in him and revealed how he called Fellaini after he was appointed as United boss to reassure him he was staying.
While there is no suggestion that the signing of the new deal is imminent, time will tell as to whether or not the former Everton man can consistently perform at a high level as he now links up with Paul Pogba in the centre of United’s midfield. When the market opened everyone said he was leaving and he was not the player for me.
Marouane Fellaini is reportedly set to be handed a new two-year contract extension by Manchester United after impressing Jose Mourinho. I told him: ‘Forget about everything you have read. For me you don’t leave for sure.
“I was sad for the players I did not select watching the game in their nice Paul Smith suits”.
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“That’s what I’m saying, I need September because the relation can be good, the players can be good professionals, they can feel I trust all of them, but when a player doesn’t play one, two, three games, the frustration comes and it is hard to play well”, he explained.
