The Reds put behind a forgettable first-half performance to comfortably beat Bournemouth 1-3 thanks to a goal from Juan Mata in the first half and then in the second, a goal for captain Wayne Rooney before spectacular debut strike from Zlatan Ibrahimovic sealed the deal.
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Ibrahimovic, the charismatic Swede who United have taken a chance on this season at the age of 34 to the tune of £260,000-a-week, is clearly one of his United talismen.
The former Sweden captain, who netted the victor on his first competitive outing in the Community Shield, drilled in a superb low shot from distance to add to goals from Juan Mata and Wayne Rooney. The first objective is to win, and it’s also good if I score.
United, who also handed a first Premier League start to Eric Bailly, had found it hard to gain control on a ground where they suffered a 2-1 defeat last season before surprise starter Mata pounced on an error from Simon Francis. For me, the victory is the most important, whoever scores is a bonus. “We weren’t 100 per cent in the first half, we couldn’t play our game, but we had more space in the second half and could play our game. It’s important to start [well]”.
Manchester United boss Jose Mourinho said he felt the nerves before their 3-1 win over Bournemouth – but he insists it is perfectly normal.
“It’s not easy. Everything is new for me”. “I just play my game, make the team win and we continue like that”.
One of them, Swiss midfielder Granit Xhaka, appeared as a second-half substitute second half and the other, young defender Rob Holding, played from the start in the absence of injured trio Per Mertesacker, Laurent Koscielny and Gabriel.
But the comment of the evening came in with regards to the most “hated” footballer in this current United side, Marouane Fellaini. “We weren’t surprised and then we started playing”, he said.
‘You have to forget the passport, that he is 34 years old, ‘ Mourinho declared.
“It’s incredible how Zlatan Ibrahimovic has never won the Golden Ball”.
Mata looked unhappy when he was replaced 30 minutes after coming on at Wembley against Leicester last Sunday but the Spaniard was all smiles as he got Mourinho’s reign up and running.
“In August it can be frustrating for players not in the team because it’s one game a week”.
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Mourinho coached Ibrahimovic at Internazionale eight years ago and has already been impressed with his contribution at Old Trafford. Fans will have been pleased to see that the Reds did not waste time in getting forward, whilst patient the Reds did not needlessly pass backwards and forwards instead looking to pick apart the Bournemouth defence, using the pace of Martial and clever link up play of Ibrahimović with increasing effectiveness.
