“We spoke during this week about what we had to do like a team and we did it”.
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“The team did good”.
Ibrahimovic said: “It was a hard game”.
Armenian Henrikh Mkhitaryan, who played for the last quarter of an hour at Bournemouth, is another contender for a midfield place, having also been added to a squad that Mourinho said had been “sad” when he first encountered them. The manager is helping bring this feeling of aggression and character that we need to win games which is very important. Everything is new for me, my team-mates, the clubs, the environment. i just play my game. “But it’s the same importance whoever scores”. Zlatan Ibrahimovic maintained his incredible debut record with a wonder strike to announce his arrival to the Premier League.
It was greeted by boos from the home crowd, many Arsenal supporters again being dissatisfied with the lack of new players Arsene Wenger has recruited in the close-season.
When asked if he had been nervous before his first Premier League clash as United boss, Mourinho replied: “To be honest, before the match a little bit, yes, but to have that feeling is normal”.
Overall, more than anything, it’s weird seeing Mourinho shouting out orders on a United sideline, but with the winning comes comfort and familiarity.
“I am very happy”.
The Telegraph reported that Mata, was a surprise starter and only in the side due to Jesse Lindgard’s injury, but that being said Mata will have shown Mourinho that his career at Old Trafford may not be as dead and buried as reported in The Mirror back in May. Replaced Juan Mata, who surprisingly started in place of the former Borussia Dortmund midfielder.
One player whose future has been in doubt ever since Mourinho took over at Old Trafford is the much-maligned Marouane Fellaini.
Liverpool’s Sadio Mane, right, breaks away from Arsenal’s Calum Chambers during the English Premier League soccer match between Arsenal and Liverpool at the Emirates Stadium in London, Sunday Aug. 14, 2016.
“We have time and we will see what happens and injuries can always happen, unfortunately. I’m happy with the team”.
Overall, though, the manager saw good signs all around and seemed only positive going forward. So we had to control. Although the goal should be more attributed to defensive failures of the opposition, Mata was rewarded for his smart run.
“But I think to be surrounded by organisation makes life easier”.
His toe-poke was initially saved by keeper Arthur Boruc, only for Francis to direct the ball in Mata’s path for the second time – this time, inadvertently.
“We dominated the early stages but you can’t gift Manchester United goals, which we did”.
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Another player, who has always been under criticism recently is Wayne Rooney and in spite of his goal, he was not at his best today. “So I thought 3-0, game over; not over”.
