BOURNEMOUTH 1, MANCHESTER UNITED 3
- Juan Mata pounces on deflected clearance by Artur Boric (40 mins)
- Wayne Rooney’s header (his 247th goal for Manchester United) from deflected Anthony Martial shot extends the lead (59 mins)
- Zlatan Ibrahimovic scores third with a low second half finish (64 mins)
- Adam Smith with consolation goal for Bournemouth (69 mins)
Manchester United’s first Premier League game under the stewardship of Jose Mourinho ended with an impressive victory at the Vitality Stadium against Bournemouth.
Goals by under pressure Juan Mata, Wayne Rooney, and Zlatan Ibrahimovic put the Reds into an unassailable lead, but Adam Smith’s late goal turned out to be just a consolation despite Bournemouth’s best efforts.
It wasn’t, however, a full throttle United on show, but manager Jose Mourinho was more than satisfied with a winning start to the season.
He said: “I am very happy. The first 15 minutes were minutes of control against a team that we analysed well and we knew that they start the game always with great intensity and putting pressure on opponents.
“We kept our control there and we scored the goal and in the second half we had more confidence and space.
“We could have scored two or three more but this is the Premier League and you can be punished.
“I am happy with the team and the boys individually,” declared the Portuguese with particular praise for the work done by Marouane Fellaini, Antonio Valencia and Premier League newcomer Eric Bailly.
“The team was very organised and made it easier to do a good performance.” added Mourinho.
There were also words of praise for another Premier League newcomer who casts more of a shadow over the game with his presence.
Zlatan Ibrahimovic admitted his first experience of the new league was new for him but he was all for playing to win as a team rather than seeking personal glory.
“He wants to win the Premier League and not the Golden Ball” explained Mourinho – something echoed by the man himself who added: “The first objective is to win, and after that if I can score and help my team mates like that it’s also good.”
Zlatan Ibrahimovic more than just a player – “also good for the Premier League”
There’s still that swagger that befits a Manchester United attacker, and comparisons between the Swede and a certain legendary Frenchman will be drawn if he continues his goalscoring form which started at Wembley last week:
Mourinho said: “[Eric] Cantona was here in the best moment of his career but this guy is more than a player and we are going to have him basically for the next two seasons.
“I think he can be phenomenal for the team but also for the Premier League. Such is the profile of the player the Premier League has to be pleased to have him.”
Asked if the signing of such an seasoned international in the twilight of his career was a risk, Mourinho was in no doubt about the reaction of a man who he revealed had to overcome an injury sustained at the Community Shield to play today.
He said: “Coming from a different league, and a different profile of club – to come to the Premier League and Manchester United to play to win titles – we couldn’t believe how he is coping with the pressure but the personality is amazing and the character is fantastic.
“He was injured during the game against Leicester. He was doing treatment during the weekend to be ready for today.
“Yesterday was the first time he trained with the team.
“He did amazing work with one physio and one of my fitness coaches.” added Mourinho.
Return of Paul Pogba will add to Jose Mourinho’s selection conundrum
One conundrum over team selection will undoubtedly arise by the time United run out at Old Trafford for the first competitive home game of the season against Southampton on Friday.
Paul Pogba, who was suspended today, will become available after he was ruled out through a suspension dating back to his Juventus days in Italy.
And the likes of Marcus Rashford and Henrikh Mkhitaryan will be vying for more game time by the time the.
Mourinho said: “The month of August is a month for players to feel frustration because we play just one game per week and the people who don’t play will be frustrated but we have the League Cup, the Europa League, the Premier League, they have national teams.
“September starts the real marathon and then there will be space for everyone. This is why we have a squad and each of them will give us important things.
“I am sure that next Friday at Old Trafford the supporters will feel the respect we have for them. Playing against 11 players and 80k fans will be difficult.”
United capitalise on lucky breaks to win first Premier League game under Jose Mourinho
With all eyes on his first Premier League team selection, Mourinho opted for two changes with Ander Herrera and Juan Mata selected in place of Michael Carrick and Jesse Lingard.
Juan Mata, a surprise starter after coming on and then being removed during last week’s Community Shield, opened the scoring with a lucky break towards the end of a cagey first half to break the deadlock when he pounced on a lucky rebound off Simon Francis after Artur Boruc had smothered his chance after 40 minutes.
Wayne Rooney capitalised on Anthony Martial’s misdirected shot to extend their lead with a header in the second half to score his 247th United goal after 59 minutes.
Martial won a free kick after being felled by Andrew Surman, the resulting free kick by Zlatan Ibrahimovic was beaten away by Boruc but there was no keeping the Swede out when he drilled in his first Premier League finish from 20 yards out minutes later.
United couldn’t keep a clean sheet, however, and they switched off towards the end allowing the Cherries to pull one back through Adam Smith.
The Reds held on with some fine goalkeeping by David De Gea as Bournemouth tried to claw back another goal late on but the visitors were comfortable winners in the end.