Swansea City were hung out to dry as Manchester United put up another swashbuckling performance on Match Day 2; plucking every strand of feather off the Swans with a 4-0 decimation at the Liberty Stadium on Saturday.
Paul Clement’s charges showed some spunk during the opening half, defending with nine men to limit United’s fluid attack.
The visitors were however not to be denied for long, as they took center stage with a daunting opener through Eric Bailly right at the stroke of half time.
Cold as ice
The game was in danger of slipping away definitively as Swansea remained astute in putting men behind the ball, hoping to catch their opponents on the counter.
Jose Mourinho however had other plans which came into fruition when he brought on Anthony Martial and Marouane Fellaini for Marcus Rashford and Juan Mata respectively- with only 15 minutes left on the clock.
What ensued was utter annihilation as three intermittent goals from Romelu Lukaku, Paul Pogba and Martial saw United register a grandstand finish to an otherwise unpredictable afternoon in Wales.
Multiple goal scorers
Zlatan Ibrahimovic was a marquee signing and it was no surprise when the Swede scored 28 goals on his debut season at Old Trafford.
Of utmost concern was nonetheless the fact that his closest competitors, Rashford and Henrikh Mkhitaryan, had 11 goals apiece- not the sort of difference that makes considerable title challengers.
The Red Devils have however come to the fore this season, with several key players getting in on the act. Jose’s side has scored eight goals in just two Premier League matches, with five different goal scorers.
Lukaku has lived up to the £75m price tag with three goals in just two matches; Pogba and Martial have each found the back of the net twice while Bailly has scored a goal to the good.
Having several goal scorers is not only hard to prepare for but a nightmare to play against.
Proper signings
Much of Manchester United’s reinvention this season has a lot to do with the high macabre signings secured by the club.
Lukaku has maintained a hundred percent goal scoring record while Nemanja Matic have proved to be a gem in midfield, offering Pogba with attacking freedom which he has without question relished.
Although Victor Lindelof has yet to come to terms with the intensity of the English game, Mourinho has handled his case well, gradually building his confidence much like he did with Mkhitaryan last season.
The new acquisitions have adapted to life at Old Trafford like ducks to water, jolting United into life.
High on confidence
Their joy may have been dampened after the defeat to Real Madrid in the UEFA Super Cup Final, but Manchester United have a newly found aura of invincibility about their play.
Signing players with prior experience in the League has had a bearing, but Jose has to take some credit for enhancing team spirit at Carrington; one that greatly imbues the United way of old.
Written by Brian Humphrey
Follow Brian on Twitter @brihum
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