Until Manchester United beat a top six rival there will be detractors but this team looks ready to challenge for the Premier League title
Sam Peoples says Utd's second straight 4-0 win shows Jose Mourinho's rampant side will turn draws into wins this season
MANCHESTER UNITED fans had every right to get excited after a 4-0 demolition OF West Ham United on the opening day of the Premier League season.
Romelu Lukaku got a brace, Paul Pogba scored, Henrikh Mkhitaryan grabbed two assists, Nemanja Matic was indomitable in the middle and there wasn’t one sign of weakness in the team.
It was one of the most complete home performances we’d seen in years. That looked like Man United playing at Old Trafford. It was brilliant to watch.
While one victory can be brushed aside, following it up with another 4-0 romping, this time away at Swansea, saw excitement levels rise to fever pitch. But unlike the West Ham game, it was a different sort of excitement and one which was indicative of an immediate and drastic improvement in Jose Mourinho’s side.
Eric Bailly scored United’s first, which was richly deserved after controlling large parts of the game. But prior to our flurry of goals at the end, it looked set to be one of those games we saw all too often last season where United dominated but only came away with a draw. That’s where the difference was seen.
With three goals in as many minutes, clinical finishes from Lukaku, Pogba and Anthony Martial wrapped the game up in explosive fashion.
United’s killer instinct returned, we were ruthless and didn’t stop at 2-0 or 3-0, we chased the fourth and got it. We attacked, attacked, attacked. That’s why United fans are buzzing, it was the manner of the win and how we turned the screw at a crucial point to kill off the type of game we’d grown used to seeing turn into draws.
United have only scored four or more goals in the Premier League five times since Sir Alex Ferguson retired - 40% of those have come in the last ten days. If that’s not grounds for getting excited, I don’t know what is.
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We’re now looking like a Mourinho team as the pieces are falling into place.
Powerful and strong with the likes of Matic, Pogba and Lukaku, watertight in defence with two clean sheets in two games and ruthless in attack with goals from Lukaku, Martial and Pogba spearheading us to the top of the table. The characteristics are there and the sense of excitement is palpable.
And if there is one thing Mourinho has built up a fierce reputation for in the Premier League, it is bursting into an early point lead and holding onto it.
United fans used to loathe seeing Chelsea start strongly and never be caught but now the shoe is on the other foot and our form is so encouraging on that front.
Add in the fact Mourinho has won the league in his second season at every club he’s been at and you begin to understand why United fans are indeed getting excited to the point of being carried away.
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Leicester City are up next and until we convincingly beat a top six rival then there will be detractors nay-saying United’s blistering start to the season.
But having seen United in the last four years since Sir Alex left, I can say with complete conviction that this United team looks different, this United team looks capable, this United team looks ready to challenge for the Premier League title.
That's why all United fans are excited right now, and so they should be.
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