Manchester United host their first European match of the season by welcoming Ukrainian side Zorya Luhansk in the second round of the Europa League.
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The first half was forgetful, with Marcus Rashford going closest to opening the deadlock with a volley that smacked against the woodwork.
United registered just two shots on target against the Ukrainians, with Zlatan Ibrahimovic’s header winning it after Wayne Rooney scuffed goalwards. Zorya certainly played their part at Old Trafford and frustrated the hosts for large parts, but Ibrahimovic’s close-range header would eventually secure a 1-0 win that may not have enthralled but kick-starts United’s Group A campaign.
United were struggling to inject any real pace into their play, with manager Jose Mourinho frustrated on the touchline as an Ibrahimovic drive crashed off a defender and, as the half-hour approached, Juan Mata just failed to find Paul Pogba with a chip into the area.
It took United 19 minutes to fashion a chance of their own as Ibrahimovic’s deflected 25-yard strike looped agonisingly wide of the target.
“Liverpool look like they’re a team who can win the league”, he told BT Sport. He actually believes – or at least wants us to believe – that Rooney has been harshly treated by the media. But he gave me what the team needed at that time – a second presence in the box.
United: Romero; Fosu-Mensah (Martial 73), Bailly, Smalling, Rojo; Fellaini, Pogba; Lingard (Rooney 67), Mata (Young 73), Rashford; Ibrahimovic.
United will be looking to rack up fourth straight win in all competitions when Mark Hughes’ side arrive at Old Trafford on Sunday lunchtime.
An equaliser was never likely as United closed out the match easily to record back-to-back wins following Saturday’s crushing 4-1 victory over Leicester. Then they won in the EFL Cup, after that they played against Leicester City on the sixth matchday of the Premier League at home and won the game by 4-1.
“Well, we could play Liverpool on the Saturday, we could play Liverpool on the Sunday”, the United manager said. After the goal there was more space.
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They are now sixth on the table with 12 points from six matches, one point below Everton and two points above Crystal Palace. “If we continue this and step it up, we will do good”.
