These might be early days, but the signs are good for the Old Trafford faithful. The biggest change in the Jose Mourinho era might be the fact that the fans are singing and cheering their team on again after three years of dull, dreary football.
United did not have to get out of second gear as they recorded a 2-0 win, their first in three attempts at home against Southampton. Their nature of dominance was such that Southampton, who had created several chances in the first half, were completely shut out in the second.
Zlatan Ibrahimovic continuing his fantastic start to life at United, bagging both the goals to make it four goals in his first three games for the club.
All the buzz was around the starting line-up as it was announced that Paul Pogba would start in midfield on his return to Old Trafford. Pogba replaced Michael Carrick as the rest of the line-up remained unchanged.
It was Southampton who started the brighter of the two sides as they sought to grab the early initiative. Claude Puel's men saw more of the ball as United's midfield was pushed back.
New signing Nathan Redmond combined well with Dusan Tadic and fashioned a couple of early chances which might have been taken had a recognised striker been operating up front. The sale of Graziano Pelle has left the Saints operating in a false nine formation, but they might seek to replace the Italian striker on the basis of this evidence.
After having a goal correctly chalked off for offside, Ibrahimovic showed exactly why he was brought. Wayne Rooney, slow and ponderous in possession till then, got to the byline after some neat interplay between him and Antonio Valencia on the right wing.
Rooney swung in a cross for Zlatan, who towered over Euro-winning defender Jose Fonte, no small man himself, and powered the ball past Fraser Forster, giving the keeper no chance.
As United went into the interval with a lead, Mourinho wanted more urgency from his men and it showed in the second half. Luke Shaw and Antonio Valencia, the two full-backs and possibly the two greatest beneficiaries of the Mourinho era, started overlapping with Anthony Martial and Juan Mata, respectively, and the result was a wave of attack after attack by the home team.
On one of these forays forward, Shaw found himself tripped by substitute Jordy Clasie in the box and United were awarded a penalty. Though there were no shortage of penalty takers (Rooney, Pogba, etc.), it was always going to be a one-man queue as Zlatan stepped up to send the keeper the wrong way and double United's lead.
By this time, Pogba, who had started the game slowly, hinting at rustiness, had grown into the game and was running proceedings from deep in the midfield. It was a delight to watch the French international, who came up with a display of power and skill as he dominated the game in the second half.
Pogba's numbers made for interesting reading as he had 103 touches of the ball, 30 more than any other player, and completed eight dribbles, while Valencia was next highest with three, made 71 passes, with Fellaini being United's next highest with 46, and added five interceptions for good measure.
The home team could have had more goals but for some dogged defending by Virgil Van Dijk and some poor finishing by Anthony Martial. The added joy for United fans was watching Henrikh Mkhitaryan come on and look good in his brief cameo.
United face an away trip to Hull City next, while Southampton welcome Sunderland to the St. Mary's Stadium.
Manchester United 2 (Zlatan Ibrahimovic – 2, including a penalty) beat Southampton 0
