Led by Pogba and Ibrahimovic, Man United break out vs. Swansea
SWANSEA, Wales -- Three points from Manchester United's 3-1 win over Swansea City at the Liberty Stadium on Sunday.
1. United saunter into Swansea
At last, a Manchester United performance full of swagger under Jose Mourinho. There were times at Swansea, especially in the first half, when their passing triangles were reminiscent of the Sir Alex Ferguson era. And their finishing, so hesitant in recent weeks, was at last explosive.
Two summer signings heavily criticised during United's recent malaise made hay against a desperately poor Swansea. Paul Pogba's spectacular 15th-minute goal was rifled in from 25 yards, before Zlatan Ibrahimovic netted in the 21st and 33rd minutes. Swansea staged a fightback over the last 20 minutes after being buoyed by Mike van der Hoorn's 69th-minute header, as some spirit at last revealed itself, but Bob Bradley's players had left themselves with far too much to do by that stage.
Mourinho himself had to watch from the stands as he served a one-game touchline ban he received for his dismissal during last week's 0-0 draw with Burnley, but faithful assistant Rui Faria performed a fine facsimile of his master along the touchline as United played with panache before sitting deeper to protect the result as the game drew on.
United's starting lineup had appeared jarringly devoid of pace, especially with Wayne Rooney and Juan Mata flanking Ibrahimovic in attack. Mourinho sent out four over-30s -- Rooney, Ibrahimovic, Ashley Young and Michael Carrick -- but United dominated possession from the start.
What those old stagers have is innate footballing know-how, and an ability to keep the ball. And they were allowed to do so by a passive Swansea, though Pogba's energy was another leading factor in United's dominance.
United have won all four games that Carrick has started this season, which makes it strange that he had been granted just 12 previous Premier League minutes. It was Ibrahimovic's sublime touches in dropping deep and Rooney's awareness that led to Pogba's opener. Van der Hoorn headed away in desperation and Pogba's rocket did the rest.
With Swansea granting acres of space between defence and midfield, Ibrahimovic found the time and room to compose United's second from outside the box. He smashed in his first Premier League goal since Sept. 10 with notable confidence for a player suffering such a lengthy drought, though Swansea keeper Lukasz Fabianski was somewhat slow to react. The Swede's second was assisted by a Rooney burst from midfield.
United have not enjoyed their trips to this corner of South Wales, having lost 2-1 at the Liberty each of the last two seasons. This, though, was far better, even if their stroll was made leisurely by opposition that could hardly have been more accommodating.
Zlatan Ibrahimovic's brace ended a six-game goal drought for the big
Swede and helped United secure the three points by halftime.
The return of Phil Jones for a first appearance since Jan. 2, coincidentally against Swansea, revealed a paucity of United defensive options, as did Ashley Young playing at right-back.
Eric Bailly's knee injury has left a significant hole, and the failure to land another commanding centre-half in the transfer window, which was on Mourinho's wish list, led to that risk on Jones. He is still just 24 but has lost so much of his career to injury that this felt like a drink in the last-chance saloon for him.
For his first dip back into action, his assignment could hardly have been simpler, with Borja Baston and Fernando Llorente given next to no service in Swansea's antiquated 4-4-2 first-half formation and the 4-3-3 they adopted after the break. Jones, though, will not have been happy to be beaten to the punch by Van der Hoorn to score Swansea's goal.
Rooney, starting his first Premier League match in a month and a half, was another who took advantage of being given time and space, and played well from an inside-left position that gave him scope for frequent involvement. His links with Pogba and Ibrahimovic particularly caught the eye.
He might have scored as early as the second minute when bursting through from his left-side station only to side-foot wide. By then, he had already set up a Swansea attack with a "no-look" pass that went straight to Borja, and there were other moments when his touch failed him, but this was an encouraging performance from the club captain.
Like Jones, though, it will take sterner tests than Swansea to prove himself close to his former self.
3. Bradley under fire
A month in charge has passed for Bob Bradley, and Swansea are in big trouble, joint-bottom of the Premier League. Bradley has made four very different selections in four matches, and has garnered a total of a single point.
The American always made big calls when coaching the U.S men's national team and is clearly feeling his way into life at Swansea, trying out different things, but the lack of Modou Barrow or Jefferson Montero on the flanks felt like a chance missed. It was rectified at half-time, as both came on in a double substitution, but the points were already long lost by then.
Bradley, his feet always placed as close to the edge of the technical area as possible, was agitated from the start, as United were given far too much time to find their rhythm.
The volley of boos that followed United's second goal revealed the lack of faith in the club's direction. There was still loud encouragement when Swansea mounted their rare attacks, but plenty of chants against the club's American majority owners and the odd catcall aimed in Bradley's direction. "We want our club back" was the loudest chant from Swans fans all afternoon
A club once widely known for its unity of purpose is troubled, and even at this early point of the season, relegation looks a highly likely outcome.
