José Mourinho hailed Zlatan Ibrahimovic’s display as the Swede scored both goals in Manchester United’s victory against Southampton and the manager was also clear that his side could not have begun the season any better.
Friday night’s victory followed the 3-1 win at Bournemouth on Sunday to give United a maximum six points from their opening games. Ibrahimovic, who was making his home debut, scored a 36th-minute header and a 52nd-minute penalty to take his tally to three.
Mourinho said: “He is very good in the air but he is very good with his feet. He holds the ball better than anyone. When he drops back he gives the team another option, to keep possession of the ball. I am very happy with his performance.”
Ibrahimovic is now the penalty taker, taking over from Wayne Rooney. “I designate three: Paul [Pogba], Wayne and Zlatan and sometimes I like the players to have the feeling it is for me,” Mourinho said. “But Wayne and Paul they told Zlatan, you are the first so when a penalty comes you are the first option, if you don’t want to take then we are here.”
Of his performance Ibrahimovic said: “If the team does good, the individual does good. I tried to do what I am best at, create chances, help my team-mates and then scoring goals. So far three goals in total and I’m happy for the team, two games, two wins. We are becoming better and better.
“It was the first game at home and we won it. And it was a good start. We need to get used to winning because the mental part is always important as well as the physical part. So we’re happy for the three points and for the first game for Paul [Pogba]. He needs to settle in, and the rest will come by itself. We need to put the puzzle together and then work on it.”
On his full debut for United Pogba impressed. “He was fantastic,” Mourinho said. “His first action was bad, he loses an easy ball and gives a counterattack and a free-kick to the opponent. You can see even more the ego, the personality, he is so comfortable as a star.”
Pogba said: “It was great. My debut and we won so I am very happy for that. I am very happy for the team. I came back home. I hope to continue like this and get better and keep winning. That is all we can do.”
Mourinho is happy at how the fans are relating to his players. He pointed to Marouane Fellaini as one illustration. “The crowd was magnificent. They are creating a good relationship with the team, with the players, even players I could feel the relationship was [previously] not the best, the players are growing that. Fellaini was a clear example … it is changing completely.
“Maybe a simple phone call can make a difference [for Fellaini]. A player that was feeling not loved. A player that when the market opened, everybody was saying he was leaving and was not a player for me.
“Maybe a simple phone call the day after my presentation as manager changed a lot because I told him, forget everything you read. For me you don’t leave for sure.
“Then I think the more organised the team play, the easier for the players to feel confident. He is playing well, with [Michael] Carrick, with Ander Herrera, with Paul. I think he is full of confidence but I have so many good players”
