Sport
Zlatan the main man
Jose Fonte could see the danger unfolding before his eyes, but the Southampton centre-back was powerless to stop it. Steven Davis was slow to close Wayne Rooney down out on the right flank, and when the Manchester United captain’s cross came in and hung in the air in front of Zlatan Ibrahimovic, there was only ever going to be one outcome.
It was a stunning header from the Swede, who leapt above Fonte and planted the ball past Fraser Forster and into the back of the net. The goal set United on their way on Friday night, with the former Paris Saint-Germain talisman adding his and the Red Devils’ second from the penalty spot in the 52nd minute to wrap up a rather routine 2-0 victory at Old Trafford.
It is now two wins from two for Jose Mourinho’s men, and while they would have expected nothing less from clashes with Bournemouth and Southampton, it is notable that United took zero points from the corresponding fixtures last term.
The focus before the game was on Paul Pogba, the most expensive footballer in the world who was making his first appearance for United since sealing an £89 million return from Juventus earlier this month. The ex-Juventus midfielder was excellent alongside Marouane Fellaini in the engine room, demonstrating the wide range of qualities which make him worth every penny of his hefty price tag, but it was Ibrahimovic who collected the Man of the Match award at the end of the encounter.
Somewhat overshadowed in the build-up to the match – a situation the 34-year- old is not at all used to – the 6ft 5in striker ensured the focus was back on him by the time referee Anthony Taylor had blown his whistle for the final time.
United played with a swagger that has not been seen at Old Trafford too often in recent years, with the arrival of Ibrahimovic playing a big part in the change of mood and atmosphere around the club. A player who has won 11 league titles and six domestic cup competitions in his career to date was always bound to add plenty in terms of leadership and experience, but Ibrahimovic still has much to offer on the pitch, too. As well as the clinical touch in front of goal he demonstrated against Southampton, United’s new No.9 can hold the ball up, bring team-mates into the game and drop deeper in the pitch to contribute in the build-up phase of play. He may now be in his mid-30s, but Ibrahimovic shows no signs of slowing down just yet.
“If the team does good, the individual does good, always,” the striker told Sky Sports after Friday’s game. “I try to do what I’m best at, create chances, help my team-mates and then score goals. “It’s a different game here. You don’t get a lot of chances like I did in France which is normal because the game is tougher and you need to work through the game. It’s the beginning, we get to know each other and when the possibility comes we need to be focused. “For me, if the goal is early or late, it’s the same thing – in the end it’s the three points that counts. If I score, Paul [Pogba] scores, whoever scores, for me it doesn’t matter.”
United fans would agree with that sentiment, but after such a fast start to his Premier League career they will have to get used to Ibrahimovic wheeling away in celebration on a regular basis this term.
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