Bournemouth 1 Manchester United 3
Bournemouth: Adam Smith (69’) | United: Juan Mata (40’) Wayne Rooney (59’) Zlatan Ibrahimovic (64’)
Man of the Match: Eric Bailly (Manchester United)
The real statement of intent came in the transfer market, not on the pitch. Manchester United were not as emphatic or as entertaining as the scoreline suggests, but the pragmatist in Jose Mourinho will not mind. He has always found validation in results and a clinical 3-1 win at Bournemouth meant a new era began with a win.
The suspended record holder Paul Pogba was not missed. The spotlight could shine on others. The outcome offered the impression that star they did as Juan Mata, Wayne Rooney and Zlatan Ibrahimovic scored. The reality is more complexed. There are few signs Rooney and Ibrahimovic are a perfect partnership, but at least they were twinned on the scoresheet.
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The captain is seeking to re-establish himself as a forward, the newcomer to make a mark at a new club. Each received a fillip in the form of a goal, Rooney’s 246th in United colours and Ibrahimovic’s second in competitive action.
The Swede scored on his friendly debut in the Community Shield, and now on his Premier League bow. One who does not suffer from shyness knows how to make an entrance. A skimming drive nestled in the Bournemouth net.
It was United’s crispest, cleanest strike. The first two goals each owed something to a mis-hit, from Bournemouth’s Simon Francis and United’s Anthony Martial respectively. With predatory awareness, Rooney latched on to the Frenchman’s miscued volley to head home, edging closer to Sir Bobby Charlton’s United record of 249 goals and perhaps postponing a personal day of reckoning.
Rooney spurned one chance, when Ibrahimovic was his supplier, and dived in vain in a failed attempt to win a penalty. Until he struck, it was threatening to be an afternoon to prompt suggestions Mourinho should soon omit him.
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Mata can confirm the United manager has no qualms about sacrificing supposed stars. Their time at Chelsea offered clues. So, too, the Community Shield. Yet after his humiliation came the rehabilitation. The substitute who was substituted became the starter who scored.
It was easy to envisage history repeating itself and Mourinho selling Mata again, harder to imagine the Spaniard scoring the first league goal of the Portuguese’s reign. Promoted to the starting line-up, he struck in uncharacteristic fashion.
Perhaps it was an indication Mata is adapting to Mourinho’s methods. He is neither a byword for closing opponents down nor for running behind their defences. He did both as he provoked and capitalised upon Francis’ under-hit back pass. This was pressing, Mata style.
His lack of pace and his strolling demeanour can count against him and it is rare to find a forward line where Mata is one of the more dynamic members. But Rooney and Ibrahimovic offer little speed in attack and he showed the intelligence to recognise that hard running was required. It was a sign that, if he fails to make the grade this season, it will not be for a lack of effort.
Yet his selection showed that Mourinho has an enduring ability to confound. Henrikh Mkhitaryan, the reigning Footballer of the Year in Germany, has been omitted for first Jesse Lingard and now Mata on successive Sundays. The Armenian came on for Mata again.
This time, however, substituting the Spaniard was not remotely controversial.
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