Juan Mata starts for Manchester United in the first game of the season.
It turns out that Jose Mourinho doesn’t hate the Spaniard after all.
It turns out that bringing him on and then subbing him off again in the Community Shield didn’t spell the end for the Manchester United attacker’s future at the club.
The new manager has named his first Premier League team as the Old Trafford outfit head south to face off with Bournemouth in their domestic opener and it looks pretty clear that they’re opting for a 4-2-3-1.
Here's today's team to face Bournemouth… #MUFC #BOUMUN pic.twitter.com/et9IZdje2c
— Manchester United (@ManUtd) August 14, 2016
The Spanish international looks set to take up a position on the right, Martial on the left, with Wayne Rooney playing behind Ibrahimovic.
Zlatan, incidentally, has another chance for another first as the friendlies are gone, the ‘competitive’ fixtures are gone and now we’re in competitive competitive territory.
If Ibrahimovic scores today, it will be his third debut goal for Man United in as many weeks
— Conán Doherty (@ConanDoherty) August 14, 2016
With a bench boasting Michael Carrick and Morgan Schneiderlin – last year’s usual holding midfield have been relegated under the new stewardship but the subs look strong with Rashford, Mkhitaryan and… *cough* Memphis also available.
One man couldn’t be farther from the action though.
Paul Pogba – the world’s most expensive player – misses out after the FA confirmed his domestic suspension from Italy would carry over to England.
Bournemouth, meanwhile, have confirmed that last year’s early season fantasy football darling, Callum Wilson, will start up top.
TEAM NEWS: The first #afcb @premierleague XI of the season to face #mufc: https://t.co/XPqufcA5aG pic.twitter.com/JdXPVRn7Ev
— AFC Bournemouth 🍒 (@afcbournemouth) August 14, 2016
