The Old Trafford guys wasted no time in kicking of their Premier League campaign in sumptuous style against host AFC Bournemouth who were out performed by Jose Mourinho Manchester United side who looked very promising and direct (purposeful) despite the absence of Record signing Paul Pogba and Henrikh Mkhitaryan (who started from the bench).
It was a game the Manchester side used in announcing to the fans, club hierarchy and opposing teams what to expect from them in the Premier League with United scoring 3 times to beat the host Bournemouth 3-1 in the game as there are certain features the game possibly entails.
On this note we evaluate five lessons from the AFC Bournemouth and the Manchester United match as the Red Devils takes all the three points in the encounter.
MATA KEY FOR UNITED
Juan Mata of Manchester United scores the opening goal five minutes from half-time.
The Manchester United side started the game with a straight and precise approach and one man who helped United so much is Juan Mata. The left footed Spaniard started on the left hand side of attack with Wayne Rooney in the middle as he (Mata) wasted no time in opening scoring for his side.
On came a loss ball in the AFC Bournemouth defence with Mata and one of the opposing defenders chasing for the ball, there comes a mix up in defence between the goal keeper and the covering defender after Mata have his shot block from close ranging only for the same ball to return to the Spanish player with the net at his mercy and the forward wasted no time in giving United the lead as his perseverance to mount pressure on the ball paid off at the end.
That just show how crucial and reliable the player (Mata) can be to the United course as he has somewhat drawn cold blood on his manager heart prompting Mourinho to reconsider his decision about leaving him (Mata) out of the United side in the days ahead.
IBRAHIMOVIC FLOURISHES AGAIN
Ibrahimovic of Manchester United celebrates scoring on his Premier League debut.
The forward have no option but to impress the watching world yet again on a United (light) shirt following his winner in the Community Shield against Leicester City last Sunday. He continued from there and have showed why he was worth the bargain despite his age (at 34).
The forward was magnificent along with Wayne Rooney as he set up Rooney for a chance in the second period with a sweet back heel. Ibrahimovic combined very well with United Skipper and gave us some insight of what to expect from him in the Premier League.
The forward capped off a brilliant display as he scored from an appreciable range shooting a low drive past the host goal to register his name on the score sheet to prove that he is here to make the difference for United as the season progresses.
UNITED’S THREE WISE MEN
Manchester United team-mates Wayne Rooney (left), Ander Herrera and Zlatan Ibrahimovic celebrate with Juan Mata after the Spaniard opened the scoring.
The forward Ibrahimovic had all the evidences around him to deliver minus his world class status and true performance in the game as he is surrounded/supported by three artistic player who are never in anyway lacking inspiration or any sort dynamic.
The trio of Juan Mata from the right to Wayne Rooney (Center) and the youthful but wise forward Anthony Martial (left) was the brain behind the Bournemouth defeat as their productivity and output in the final third was go rich in quality for the host defence to handle coupled with the general performance of the players behind the aforementioned trio with De Gea inclusive.
Such was evident as Martial ran in between two player with flair and class to set up Ibrahimovic who showed no mercy to the host by bending the ball into the left bottom corner from range thus adding more woes to Bournemouth.
MOURINHO DELIVERS A MESSAGE
United team-mates along with Jose mob the Swede who put the game beyond Bournemouth’s reach.
The Chelsea manager just like he did at Chelsea in the beginning of the triumphant season where he brought in Cesc Fabregas from Spanish side Barcelona and striker Diego Costa from Athletico Madrid and right from the opening day Engineered a Premier League title for Chelsea following a 3-1 away win at Burnley with Andre Schurrle, Diego Costa and Branislav Ivanovic ensured that the blues came from a goal down to win at Burnley by getting on the score sheet on that occasion.
Similarly, the same manager Jose has won 1-3 away at AFC Bournemouth though this time conceding a late consolation but it will be an undoing for any Premier League manager especially those at the top clubs (particularly Arsenal Wenger) not to understand what the victory meant for United and Jose. The manager speaking on Sky Sports said “we (United) were very alert and composed in the game, very organized as well and it was good to hit the ground earlier”.
This is a sure sign that Jose (Mourinho) irrespective of his first season at Manchester (United) have a huge eye on the Premier League trophy as they sit presently at the top of the log irrespective of Chelsea win over West Ham United in the first London derby of the Premier League season.
UNITED ABOVE AFC BOURNEMOUTH
Manchester United’s players led by Captain Rooney applaud the fans after their opening day Premier League win.
The United side were clearly the better side in the encounter at Bournemouth as they had 78% of possession as regards to the host (AFC Bournemouth) 22% of ball possession in the early exchanges during the game.
This is a clear evidence as the score line (3-1 in favour of Manchester United) is a true reflection of the game as the Red Devils out classed the opponent in the Premier League opener. Antonio Valencia was one of the troubling United players from even from defence as he muscled his way through the Bournemouth defence from his right back position to deliver a positive cross into the central areas.
Adam Smith gave Bournemouth hope after scoring their first goal which proved to be a consolation.
AFC Bournemouth were not babies either as they got a brilliant consolation of their own from Adam Smith who scored with a magnificent effort to give the Bournemouth fans one moment to be proud of ahead of the weekend fixtures in the Barclays Premier League.
