Manchester United ran out 2-1 victors over Leicester City in the opening game of the 2018/19 Premier League season, courtesy of goals from Paul Pogba and Luke Shaw, with Jamie Vardy’s injury time finish a mere consolation for the Foxes.
A handball from Daniel Amartey in the fourth minute gave Andre Marriner no choice but to point to the spot after a shot from Alexis Sanchez, with Pogba dispatching the penalty into the top right hand corner. The tempo was set for United’s commencement of their Premier League campaign, as they continued to dominate the first-half at Old Trafford.
Leicester had chances, David De Gea saving a sharp shot from James Maddison, as well as Kelechi Iheanacho going close in the 15th minute, but United preserved their 1-0 lead going into half-time.
In a typical Mourinho performance, United’s second half performance offered attacking promise, yet focused primarily on defending their lead – the 1-0 scoreline is an awfully familiar one at any club the Portuguese has managed, though Romelu Lukaku nearly converted as the game entered its final ten minutes, but was denied from a sharp save from Schmeichel, then a much maligned figure under the Mourinho regime unexpectedly stepped forwards and sent the game to bed: left-back Luke Shaw.
Shaw surged forwards after a through ball from Juan Mata, and after rounding Adrien Silva, he slotted into the bottom right corner for a crucial goal, increasing United’s lead to 2-0 and marking his first senior goal.
Jamie Vardy pulled one back for the hosts at the death to make it 2-1, marking a frantic few minutes to end the game, though United pulled through and secured their first win of the 2018/19 Premier League campaign.
The scoreline lacking an emphatic nature, such as their 4-0 opening win against Swansea City last season, will seldom bother Mourinho – Friday night saw the collection of three valuable points in his question to overcome their noisy, bordering on boisterous, neighbours from east Manchester.
For Claude Puel and Leicester, this was a stern opening test for their Premier League campaign; few teams will travel to Old Trafford this season and collect a sole point, let alone three. Their next two fixtures, Wolves (H) and Southampton (A), will present more realistic opportunities to acquire valuable points, but the East Midlands outfit looked defensively solid, barring the Shaw goal, and they offered attacking promise throughout; they were unlucky to concede the early penalty. Ben Chilwell at left-back looked extremely lively throughout, and was Leicester’s most promising attacking outlet for much of the 90 minutes.
The absence of Riyad Mahrez, a club-record £60m signing for Manchester City this summer, meant naturally Leicester lacked their usual spark and ability to create something out of nothing. James Maddison, a £24m signing from Norwich City who scored 14 goals and registered eight assists in the Championship last year, was Leicester’s most threatening player going forwards, and Puel will be looking to Maddison to replicate some of Mahrez’s output in his absence.
The pre-match discussion was dominated by Mourinho’s supposed disapproval of United’s transfer dealings, having signed Diego Dalot, Fred and Lee Grant, but the star performer in Manchester on Friday night came from within his already assembly armoury of talent: his elected captain for the night, Pogba.
Pogba was outstanding at Old Trafford, putting in a dominant display of attacking and defensive prowess, setting the tempo for their play and leading by example with the captains armband. Since his £89m move from Juventus, Pogba has often struggled for consistency, largely owing to some unfortunate injuries, though with a World Cup under his belt and an almost guaranteed spot in Mourinho’s starting XI, 2018/19 is truly his chance to shine – his manager will be hoping for similar performances to what the Frenchman delivered on Friday against Leicester.
For Mourinho and his Manchester United side, this was a statement of intent. They largely nullified Leicester’s forward players, and for all that was made of United’s unsuccessful pursuit of numerous centre-back targets, the defensive solidity provided by Victor Lindelof and Eric Bailly, Mourinho’s two central defensive signings since taking charge in 2016, could perhaps suggest that the club should not be too disheartened at their lack of new arrivals in the defensive department: Lindelof and Bailly are capable of delivering as United’s first choice centre halves in the upcoming campaign.
Mourinho will be pleased that United have overcome their first hurdle of the campaign, though whether this has simply papered over the cracks or is the foundations of an extremely successful season for the club does indeed remain to be seen. Ed Woodward will certainly feel a sense of vindication tonight in the fact that United’s squad is absolutely unquestionably capable of competing, and further additions are more a luxury rather than a mandatory requirement for silverware to be returning to Old Trafford this season.
United will be pleased, as will Mourinho, as their quest for a first Premier League title since 2013 gets under way, but amidst the uncertainty and tensions, one observation is certain of the Red Devils’ start to the campaign: they raised the pulses of their fans at the last, but they’re off to a sublime, winning start.
