MANCHESTER UNITED 2, SOUTHAMPTON 0
- Southampton lost Oriol Romeu after 12 minutes to injury
- Zlatan Ibrahimovic added the aerial power that was missing from United last season – the Reds only scored 5 headed goals last season in the Premier League.
- Ibrahimovic doubled United’s tally from the penalty spot after Luke Shaw was brought down
- First win against Southampton at Old Trafford since January 2013.
- Only 43% possession by Man Utd but fans will be happier with the scoreline, movement and marksmanship shown by the team
Two goals by Zlatan Ibrahimovic sealed a first victory against Southampton at Old Trafford since Sir Alex Ferguson was in charge of the club in 2013.
Ibrahimovic’s towering first half header put United into the lead and a penalty early in the second half doubled the advantage as Southampton couldn’t make their possession advantage count against their physically bigger, stronger and more direct hosts.
Wayne Rooney was quiet on his 600th club game, passing up the chance to score his 247th United goal when the penalty came up, while Daley Blind ended up with the captain’s armband after Rooney’s late departure for Chris Smalling.
Jose Mourinho explained that he designated three penalty takers, Paul Pogba, Ibrahimovic and Rooney, but he stipulated that the players should decide between themselves.
“The players told me that Zlatan should have the first penalty. They will pick the next.” explained the Portuguese.
Mourinho to build a team around Paul Pogba
Mourinho said he would build a team around Pogba, who started the his first United game at Old Trafford, and at the heart of most of United’s best moves on the night.
Admittedly, however, there might have been first night nerves after Southampton threatened a goal from an early mistake by the young Frenchman.
Mourinho said: “His first action was bad. He gave a counter attack to the opponents but he was so comfortable and confident in the way he played after that.
“This is after just ten days work.
“We have to build a certain organisation around him but he has to play free and he will bring a lot to the team. The moment we lose the ball we have to be protective.
“When he starts his movement forward we need to bring other players in. He has to play with freedom.”
Pogba’s midfield partner, the much maligned Marouane Fellaini, was also praised for the work he did in midfield, and Mourinho used his famed man-management to bring the best out of him other players.
“Maybe a simple phone call can make a difference to a player who was feeling unloved. Especially when the [transfer] market opened everyone said he was leaving. He was not a player for me. A player on the move.”
“A simple phone call the day after my presentation as manager gave him the confidence unexpected for him.
“The more organised the team plays the easier the players can feel confident.
“He played well with Carrick, Pogba, and Herrera.”
Squad players will get their chance in September
Mourinho admitted, however, that he couldn’t wait for September to come, with more league and cup matches in which he could field some of the other members of the United squad who hadn’t received much game time until now.
“We have a big top quality squad so I need September – the relations can be good, players can be great professionals, but players are players and they get frustrated when they dont play and then don’t train well.
“Then I have a reason for not selecting them and they will go down the hill. They need to play and deserve to play.” said Mourinho who name checked Matteo Darmian, Tim Fosu-Mensah, Phil Jones, Chris Smalling, Marcos Rojo, Sergio Romero, Ander Herrera, Morgan Schneiderlin, Ashley Young, Mephis, and Marcus Rashford.
There was just one change for United from last weekend’s game at Bournemouth. World record signing Paul Pogba was thrown straight into the team after serving a one match ban carried over from his former club Juventus.
It was the first start for United across both spells at the club for the £89m midfielder, and it was a vital first competitive match at Old Trafford for new Reds boss Jose Mourinho.
Ander Herrera stepped down to the bench alongside Chris Smalling, who was also banned for last weekend’s game after being sent off in last season’s FA Cup final.
Jose Fonte, a target for United boss Jose Mourinho, started for Saints after being given extra time off following his European Championships exploits for Portugal.
Imposing United scoring in the air
The selection may not have changed much since the Bournemouth game but it was easy to see the physically imposing spine that United now had, with Bailly at the back, Pogba and Fellaini in midfield and Ibrahimovic up front.
After a shaky start for United, with Pogba handing the Saints an early chance, Southampton suffered an early setback when Oriol Romeu limped off after just 12 minutes after sustaining an injury.
United began finding their feet, and Pogba started to show his class in both shielding the back four and trying to switch the play after the Reds won the ball.
His movement was good and his willingness to hit long passes towards United’s forwards, Ibrahimovic in particular, showed how the Reds have ditched the ponderous build-ups of the last two seasons.
There was also no lack of imagination from United, with Pogba’s 29th minute cross flicked on by Juan Mata only to see Ibrahimovic try an outrageous overhead kick as the ball lopped over him.
Pogba was even lurking in the area when Rooney’s right wing cross flew over his head in the 36th minute only to be headed firmly past Fraser Forster to open the scoring for United – his third goal in as many games for the Reds, including the Community Shield.
Two minutes in the second half saw United double the lead after Southampton could have levelled the scores.
Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg’s cross was sent in by Cedric Soares but Dusan Tadic was adjudged to be offside after putting the ball past David De Gea.
Two minutes later, Luke Shaw raced into the box only to be brought down by Jordie Clasie and Ibrahimovic stepped up to double United’s goal tally for the night from the penalty spot with a low strike into the bottom left corner.
It was the Swede’s fourth goal in three United games and Old Trafford was rocking at the swift turn around in their fortunes after slow starts in both halves against the Saints.
“It doesn’t matter who scored.” said the Swede afterwards – but there’s a distinct feeling that we were always going to know in any event.
Fear factor coming back to Old Trafford?
By the time the game was an hour old Pogba had established himself into United’s midfield and was responsible for the faster counter attacks that diminished Southampton’s ability to make good use of their possession in the final third.
United had successfully reduced their vistors to chasing shadows and coming up against a brick wall in front of an already competent back four, with Maroane Fellaini and Pogba screening and Eric Bailly fast enough to nullify Shane Long and Tadic’s few successful runs on the Reds defence.
The one thing missing from the uplifting United performance was a goal for returning midfield general Pogba seconds from time.
He missed the chance to cap his return to Old Trafford by thrashing the ball wide when sent clear by a superbly weighted pass by substitute Henrikh Mkhitaryan as Ibrahimovic dragged his markers wide.
It would have marked a superb return, but it won’t be the last chance that Pogba gets.