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Jose Mourinho hails Nemanja Matic 'a genius' after Manchester United debut

Paul Pogba of Manchester United in action with Stanley Amuzie of Sampdoria during the International Champions Cup pre-season friendly match between
Image: Jose Mourinho sung Nemanja Matic's praises after his Manchester United debut

Jose Mourinho hailed new signing Nemanja Matic "a genius" as the holding midfielder made his first appearance for Manchester United.

Matic started for United in their 2-1 friendly win over Sampdoria in Dublin following his £40m switch from Premier League champions Chelsea.

Mata the match-winner in Dublin
Mata the match-winner in Dublin

Juan Mata strikes as United end pre-season with victory

He lasted 45 minutes, with Mourinho admitting the Serbian still lacked full match fitness.

"He needs time but (his) experience, intelligence, a genius in the way he thinks - he thinks football," Mourinho said.

"We will help him to be ready sooner rather than later."

As well as Matic, fellow new boys Victor Lindelof and Romelu Lukaku also started the game at the Aviva Stadium.

United opening the scoring in the first half when Henrikh Mkhitaryan headed home at the far post after a lightning break that stemmed from a charged-down indirect free-kick on the edge of their own six-yard area.

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Sampdoria equalised midway through the second half, with Dennis Praet's deflected effort deceiving David De Gea.

DUBLIN, IRELAND - AUGUST 02:  Henrikh Mkhitaryan of Manchester United celebrates scoring a goal during the International Champions Cup match between Manche
Image: Henrikh Mkhitaryan opened the scoring in Dublin

Substitute Juan Mata got the winner with 10 minutes left, coolly side-footing in from the edge of the penalty area.

Mourinho said his club had done a "fantastic job" delivering three of his desired four summer transfers.

He added: "To get three out of four I thank the club for that, I will be happier if they get me four of four but they did a great effort for me."

Juan Mata celebrates his winner against Sampdoria
Image: Juan Mata celebrates his winner against Sampdoria

After the game, Mourinho also described the two-game ban handed to Phil Jones for a breach of UEFA's anti-doping regulations as "very unfair".

Defender Jones has been suspended for two matches for verbally abusing a doping control officer after being selected for testing following the Europa League final win in May.

The player was upset at having to miss out on celebrations and a squad photograph paying tribute to victims of the Manchester terrorist attack.

Manchester United's Portuguese manager Jose Mourinho gestures before the pre-season friendly game between Manchester United and Sampdoria at the Aviva stad
Image: Mourinho was baffled by Jones ban which rules him out of Tuesday's UEFA Super Cup game in Skopje

His manager said the anti-doping authorities should have taken into consideration the significance of the occasion and allowed him some time to celebrate with team-mates.

"It's not a normal match, it's a final, it's a cup, it's a medal, it's the celebration, it's everything," Mourinho said.

Mourinho said he will leave the decision on whether to appeal against the ban to Jones himself, noting that he ran the risk of getting it extended if the appeal failed.

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