Jolly good Fellow
JOSE MOURINHO said that Manchester United were back in their “natural habitat” and they could not really have had an easier reintroduction to the Champions League.
Two headers by two big Belgians Marouane Fellaini and Romelu Lukaku plus a shot from Marcus Rashford were enough to see off Basle in their Group A opener at a rain-soaked Old Trafford.
But the comfortable victory for the Europa League winners came at a cost with Paul Pogba limping off in the first half with a hamstring injury which could keep him out for three weeks.
Fellaini came on to live up to Mourinho’s pre-match billing that he is a player he hates to be without in his squad by breaking the deadlock with a towering header from Ashley Young’s cross.
Then Lukaku wasted no time in making an impact on his debut in the competition as he followed Fellaini’s example by exposing the aerial vulnerability of Basle by heading home Daley Blind’s cross early in the second half.
Rashford, on as a late substitute, took only seven minutes to continue his scoring streak when he lashed home Fellaini’s cut-back, his fourth goal in his last five appearances for club and country.
It could have been a bigger margin of victory but Mourinho will be content.
His side made a bright start in the rain against the Swiss champions, who had drawn on their two previous visits to Old Trafford. Lukaku almost put United ahead in the first minute when Anthony Martial flicked on Juan Mata’s corner. His half-volley was heading into the net but struck Manuel Akanji on the chest and flew over.
Clever link-up play between Lukaku, Martial and Mata resulted in a chance for Henrikh Mkhitaryan but his headed effort flew over.
Lukaku had made a lively start and saw a low shot saved by Tomas Vaclik before United suffered a big blow in the 18th minute when Pogba pulled up clutching his left hamstring after going in for a challenge on Mohamed Elyounoussi. He went straight to the deck and was replaced by Fellaini. It was a disappointing end to Pogba’s first game as captain. But United remained on the front foot and were unlucky not to take the lead when Mkhitaryan had three attempts to convert a Lukaku cross.
His first shot went under Vaclik’s body and hit the post, his second was saved by the goalkeeper and his third was blocked by Akanji.
Basle threatened when Luca Zuffi shot wide but Fellaini eased the growing sense of anxiety by heading United in front after 35 minutes. Mkhitaryan sprayed a pass out to Young on the right and he made room for a curling cross and Fellaini climbed high above his marker to power home a header to give United the breakthrough.
United continued to dominate after the restart. Martial had a shot tipped round by Vaclik and from the corner Lukaku scored. Blind played a one-two with Mata before swinging over a cross as inviting as Young’s had been for Fellaini’s goal.
This time it was Lukaku who converted to make it a Belgian double.
United were in total command now and Michael Lang was cautioned for a crude foul to stop Martial in his tracks. From Mkhitaryan’s free-kick, Lukaku again exposed Basle’s vulnerability in the air by powering in a header that Vaclik pushed round a post.
Basle, however, reminded United of their threat after Mkhitaryan gave the ball away. Only a brilliant save by David de Gea prevented Elyounoussi from pulling a goal back before Rashford ensured there would be no late drama.