Adapting to a new country is not easy, but Andreas Pereira is easing the transition for his fellow Brazilian.
That's how Luke Shaw has described his goal in front of the Stretford End, which capped a top display against Leicester.
The best images from our opening match of the new Premier League season.
Delve into the manager's analysis following the win over Leicester City at Old Trafford.
Our website uses cookies and other similar technologies to improve our site and your online experience. By continuing to use our website you consent to cookies being used. See our Cookie Policy to find out more.
Storm clouds remain heavy over Manchester United with even this vital opening Premier League victory against Leicester City failing to lift the dark mood of Jose Mourinho.
Goals from Paul Pogba and Luke Shaw – which felt strangely appropriate given the uncertainty over their futures under Mourinho – were not enough for the manager to move on from his burning sense that he has been badly let down this summer by the club’s hierarchy.
Post-match and Mourinho was talking failed transfer targets and tricky pre-seasons – again – and he made a barbed comment about how managers nowadays should all be re-defined as head coaches such is the power they have had to cede to their clubs. A bit like the fable of the scorpion and the fox he just cannot help himself.
Goodness knows what Mourinho’s reaction would have been had United lost to a reshaped Leicester who preyed on that uncertainty and pushed and pushed before scoring in injury-time through substitute Jamie Vardy. The final play of the match was United watching nervously as a header from a Leicester corner, and with goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel in the home penalty area, drifted wide.
The match itself was a microcosm of how Mourinho is perceived. It was either an important, encouraging win earned through managing the depleted resources available to him – for example using 22-year-old attacking midfielder such as Andreas Pereira in a deeper role – or another example that they are a maddeningly constrained curiosity given the vast resources available to them. They won; but they did not win convincingly.
Manchester United vs Leicester LIVE updates
- Manchester United boast one of the best records on opening day, winning the last four in which they have opened the new season. - Man Utd won penalty after just 77 seconds. Paul Pogba placed it into the top corner to give Manchester United a 1-0 lead. - Luke Shaw scored his first goal in professional football late in the second half to double Manchester United's advantage. - Jamie Vardy nodded home deep into stoppage time to give Leicester hope but it proved too little, too late.
Manchester United 2-1 Leicester RECAP FULL-TIME Leicester had a chance to equalise in the dying seconds after winning a free-kick down by the corner flag and Schmeichel was sent up but he was unable to direct his header goalwards. A fascinating first 45 minutes definitely petered out in the second half and Vardy's late goal added some drama but it was too little too late. 90+2: GOAL LEICESTER: Vardy makes amends for his miss with a real poachers goal after Ricardo's strike hits the woodwork. Surely not... Four minutes added on Leicester still pushing and Vardy with a great chance to give his side a chance after being found in acres of space just on the six yard line but he fires his volley over the bar. 84 min: GOAL MAN UTD! And it's an unlikely source... Luke Shaw! The left-back gets a bit of fortune inside the box with a favourable bounce but gets ahead of his marker to fire in an effort across the face of Schmeichel into the far corner. Jose Mourinho loved that one! He pretty much jumped into the United bench in celebration. Surely that's game over now. 78 min: HOW DID THAT STAY OUT?! Lukaku with all the time in the world to pick his spot but Schmeichel spreads his body enough to get something on it. It bounces under his body and somehow loops onto the roof of the net. 74 min: Luke Shaw caught napping by a tenacious Jamie Vardy downt the left flank. The England striker whips in a cross to Demarai Gray, but his attempted shot is easy for De Gea to gather. First signs of a late push from Leicester? Fred's debut is over with Scott McTominay coming on in his place. 66 mins: Man Utd subs: Rashford off for Lukaku 63 min: Leicester subs Vary and Ghezzal on for Maddison and Amartey 60 min: Not a lot happening this half. Leicester struggling to break United down like they did in the opening 45 minutes. Jose Mourinho's side looking most likely to score next. 50 min: Rashford finds space in between Leicester's two centre halves and runs into the box but he goes down a blind alley before being flagged for offside. United looking more dangerous this half.
Marcus Rashford led the line for Manchester United from the start
SECOND HALF Back underway here at Old Trafford. No changes from either side. Can Leicester find an equaliser or will United run away with it? HALF-TIME Pogba's penalty separating the two sides at the moment but it's been far from comfortable for United. De Gea coming to the rescue for Jose Mourinho's side with a fine save from Maddison midway through the half. 41 min: Good period of pressure for United now. Sanchez found by Fred down the middle but he's waved offside. Luke Shaw then breaks the offside trap down the left before cutting in and driving a low effort at Schmeichel. Fascinating game so far. Can't see this one ending 1-0 (I've probably cursed the match now though so I apologise in advance) 33 min: Schmeichel hasn't had much to do in the Leicester goal other than picking the ball out of his net. Rashford a passenger at the moment, just can't get involved. Leicester looking solid and finding space all around United's backline. 28 min: SAVE DE GEA! Maddison in acres of space in the box and he fires a shot towards goal but the Spaniard is equal to it. Good spell of pressure from Leicester right now... 21 min: Pogba gets the crowd going by hunting down the ball after being challenged. Certainly doesn't look like a player who wishes he got a move away from Old Trafford this summer. 15 min: Chance Leicester! Gray chips over a delightful ball into the feet of Iheanacho and the striker drags his shot wide from close range. Waved offside anyway but good response from Leicester so far.
Paul Pogba scored from the penalty spot after just 76 seconds
12 min: Leicester with their first opportunity to get the ball in the box and Maddison to showcase his set-piece abilities. Whips in a great ball but Pogba is there to clear. Expect Leicester to get their best opportunities from Maddison's set-pieces. 8 min: That has certaintly got the Old Trafford crowd going. Challenge for Leicester to calm the game down to their pace now so that this doesn't get away from them before it has even begun. But United looking extremely dangerous on the counter-attack with the pace of Sanchez and Rashford already causing havoc. 5 min: What a confident penalty from the World Cup winner! That run up had every United fan with their hands over their eyes but he slots it in the top corner. Brilliant strike! GOAL MAN UTD! 2 min: PENALTY TO MANCHESTER UNITED! Amartey adjudged to have handled the ball in the box. Just 76 seconds after the whistle was blown for kick off! Paul Pogba, wearing the captain's armband steps up... strange run up... GOAL!
James Maddison impressing on Leicester debut
Jose Mourinho named Anthony Martial on the bench
The teams are out, I'm sure you are on the edge of your seat for this one! Kick off just seconds away! 7:45pm: Is Jose Mourinho attempting to ward off Barcelona by handing Paul Pogba the captaincy? Pogba skippers Manchester United against Leicester this evening as the Red Devils kick off the new campaign. And the Daily Mail report the decision has been made to convince the midfielder to snub Barcelona. The La Liga giants are eager to snap up Pogba before the Spanish transfer window closes at the end of the month. 7:30pm: Mourinho explains Pogba decision: “The players involved in the World Cup semi-finals started training on Monday and some of them are involved today to help the team," he said. "Nemanja Matic is unavailable, Jesse Lingard doesn't feel he is in a position to help us but Romelu Lukaku can give us a hand from the bench. “Antonio Valencia is the captain but he is not here so Paul Pogba is captain. He has come up through the academy and he knows what the club means."
Paul Pogba has been named captain for Manchester United
MANCHESTER UNITED arrived late at Old Trafford last night but took less than three minutes to get their Premier League season up and running.
GETTY Man Utd saw off Leicester as Luke Shaw scored the winner at Old Trafford
Jose Mourinho’s men got to the ground just an hour before kick-off against Leicester after their team coach got stuck in traffic making the three-mile journey from their hotel. But they didn’t get delayed on the pitch as Paul Pogba put away an early penalty - who else would it be after the week he has had – before Luke Shaw was the unlikely scorer of the second. Finally, Jose Mourinho could smile after a summer of frowning. This will at least put on hold talk that the grumpy manager is heading for another third-season meltdown to replicate his Chelsea days. The United boss spent pre-season playing down their Premier League title chances, criticising players and complaining about their transfer activity. He predicted his side would face a “difficult” campaign if they failed to add a new central defender and right winger before the transfer deadline passed. They did fail to deliver his demands, but got off to a winning start against Leicester at least. Mourinho even moaned about having to play first on a Friday night in his pre-match programme notes – citing less preparation time than their rivals.
GETTY Paul Pogba scored a penalty early on in the game
But finally the Old Trafford boss had something to be cheerful about after a summer of fearing the worst as they got the first three points of the season on the board. After their pre-match preparations were rushed, it took just 77 seconds for them to get on the front foot. Alexis Sanchez’s shot hit Daniel Amartey’s arm and referee Andre Marriner pointed to the spot. If felt as if it was written that Pogba would step up and, after a discussion with Sanchez over who should take it, he curled home the penalty. The World Cup winning Frenchman began the week looking to head out of the club but ended it with a goal wearing the captain’s armband. Mourinho said in the summer that Antonio Valencia would be the skipper this season but in his absence it was handed to the Frenchman. Maybe it was a move to keep the midfelder happy and convince him that staying here is better than heading to Barcelona. Pogba was not showing any signs that he was distracted though as he starred in midfield alongside the impressive Andreas Pereira, who got a deserved start after a fine pre-season.
GETTY Jamie Vardy pulled a goal back for Leicester in stoppage time but it was too late
