Zlatan keen on the title role in Jose fast show
FAST starts have been a Jose Mourinho trademark ever since he arrived in the Premier League. His three titles at Chelsea were won on the back of powerful unbeaten runs launched on the opening day, forcing Sir Alex Ferguson and others to change their approach.
So when Zlatan Ibrahimovic talks about his ‘vision’ of becoming a champion in a fifth different country, Mourinho knows two wins from United’s opening matches against Bournemouth and Southampton provide the right platform.
And he already feels United look their strongest since Ferguson retired in 2013.
‘If you are going to lose points, the later the better,’ said the United manager whose marquee signings Paul Pogba and Zlatan Ibrahimovic could not have wished for a more promising Old Trafford debut than the 2-0 win against Southampton on Friday, with Ibra scoring twice.
‘If you start losing points at the beginning of the season, then you have to chase. So it is better not to lose points,’ said Mourinho. ‘At this moment, it’s even more important to show evolution in our game and we are showing that. I agree we are not playing superbly but anyone can see there are differences in relation to the past two or three years.
‘The team are improving and playing differently. The way the fans react, it is not just because of their passion for the club, it is also because they are happy with the signs of this evolution.
‘The important number is to score one more goal than your opponent and we are scoring two more, so we are fine!’
There are similarities with this start and those Mourinho made at Chelsea. In 2005-6, the Londoners won their first nine matches and ended eight points clear of second-placed United.
And Ibrahimovic has made it clear he has not joined the club to be a runner-up. The 34-year-old Swede has won the title for 13 of the 15 seasons he has played abroad at seven big clubs — Ajax, Juventus, AC Milan, Inter, Barcelona and Paris St-Germain.
His header and penalty against the Saints illustrated his United intentions. ‘I believe we can win the title, I have this vision,’ he said. ‘We need to work hard for it and will do everything to bother the other teams who want to win.
‘I’m focusing on trying to help my team win and after two games we have two wins, which is the most important thing.
‘Who scores is less important, as long as we are winning. Yes, I’ve scored three goals so far but it is only the beginning. The team will work hard and slowly we will get better.
‘I am becoming better with every day that goes. As long as I feel I can develop, I’m happy.’
Mourinho made an appeal for fans to get behind the team and they responded with a noise that has not been heard since the Ferguson era. Ibrahimovic was suitably impressed.
‘The supporters are amazing and I have this feeling that they are the 12th player on the field.
‘I’ve played in many countries and many big teams and the fans here are something else. It is really amazing and we should give them something back. If we do this together we are going to be very successful.’
All of Mourinho’s successful Premier League title campaigns were won from the front. With Chelsesa two seasons ago, they won 11 of their first 14 games.
He is happy for Ibrahimovic and Wayne Rooney to grab the headlines and allow £89million record signing Paul Pogba to do the less celebrated yet more important dirty work from the midfield.
Despite the price tag, he has not set a goal target for the 23-year-old Frenchman. ‘He is not a striker, he is a midfield player,’ said Mourinho pointedly.
‘He will score goals in different ways. He can score in the air, he can score arriving in the box. He can score shooting from long distance. He will score goals but no number.’
The important number will be victories in this early winning streak. Hull are up next on Saturday and Mourinho has that fast-start formula down to a tee.