Ole: That was the real Reds
OLE GUNNAR SOLSKJAER warned the Premier League that the “real Manchester United” are back after his men ran riot on the opening day.
Bruno Fernandes scored a hat-trick and Paul Pogba set up four goals, as the Reds blitzed Leeds at Old Trafford for the second successive season.
Mason Greenwood and Fred were also on the mark, after Luke Ayling’s early second-half stunner briefly dragged Marcelo Bielsa’s side level.
A delighted Solskjaer said: “This is the real Man United.
“I love seeing them all smiling when they play football like that.
“This is how I sold Man United to Edinson Cavani, for example, when I told him you can’t leave after one season playing without fans.
“Sir Alex Ferguson, the gaffer, always used to say, ‘Enjoy yourself, express yourself’.
“You have to enjoy the privilege, pressure and responsibility of playing in front of 75,000 fans – and millions more fans watching in front of the television.
“But to get there and smile you have to do that hard work as well.
“I knew they would work hard, but was not 100 percent sure on the fitness levels because Leeds are the most high-intensity team.
“But the way we coped with that, and put down the foundation for the performance, has to be down to us.
“That has to be with us and then you can smile towards the end.
“I know the headlines will probably be about Paul or Bruno, but this was a team effort.”
Leeds boss Bielsa refused to blame the absence of England midfielder Kalvin Phillips for his team’s dour display.
Phillips was left on the bench following his Euro 2020 exertions this summer.
Bielsea said: “Phillips always shines when he plays for us, but this was not down to individual problems.”