Jose Mourinho kick-start his Manchester United campaign with a fantastic win over AFC Bournemouth that were promoted to the Premier League last season; thanks to classic display and goals from Juan Mata, Wayne Rooney and debutant, Zlatan Ibrahimovic.
It was Mata, getting his 52nd consecutive league game for United having not missed one since February 2015, who put the Reds ahead after capitalising on a defensive area just before the break. Wayne Rooney headed a second after the interval, before the impressive Ibrahimovic drilled home from 25 yards. An Adam Smith strike was a mere consolation for Bournemouth.
Mata’s future at the club was thrown into doubt from the moment Mourinho was linked with the United job. His departure from Chelsea after finding playing time hard to come by under the Portuguese had led him to Old Trafford in the first place, and many immediately decided the two would be unable to work together at United. But he will forever be remembered as the man to score the first league goal of Mourinho’s United era, pouncing on two separate lucky breaks off Simon Francis to roll home the opener. Aside from the goal, Mata played like a man with a point to prove on the right-hand side of the Reds’ attack. And while it will take more of these afternoons to cement a regular starting place, there was plenty to suggest he has some part to play this term.
United were without world-record £89m signing Paul Pogba through suspension, while midfielder Henrikh Mkhitaryan started on the bench, with Mata preferred.
Mourinho made two changes to the side that won at Wembley in the Community Shield seven days earlier as Jesse Lingard, who picked up a knock in that game, and Michael Carrick made way for Mata and Ander Herrera. There were Premier League debuts for Eric Bailly – in imperious form at the back alongside Daley Blind – Ibrahimovic and, later in the match, Henrikh Mkhitaryan, while Antonio Valencia notched his 250th appearance for the Reds.
The Reds were enjoying themselves in the Bournemouth sunshine and things got even better for Mourinho’s men just after the hour mark. A minute after Ibrahimovic had seen a free-kick brilliantly saved by Boruc, the Swede picked up possession 25 yards out and angled a lovely low drive into the bottom corner to make it two goals in two competitive games for the Reds, ensuring he has now scored on his Premier League, Serie A, La Liga, Ligue 1 and Champions League bows.
As it stands, Manchester United are topping the league table on goal difference ahead of Hull City and Manchester who are currently 2nd and 3rd respectively with two games left for Match Week 1.
