Tanvir Juneja
The season has started out on a pleasant winning streak of three matches under newly-christened boss Jose Mourinho aka The Special One for Manchester United fans. The team has performed well enough to get results out of these immensely important initial fixtures of the Premier League. It looks as though the arrival of world-class players like Ibrahimovic, Pogba and Henrikh Mkhitaryan have done a world of good to the squad and though they come at mouth-watering costs, their impact goes beyond just what the scoresheet reads at the end of every game. It affects the entire dressing room, board room, training drills, support staff, official authorities and even infects the stadium with the vibes of fresh energy and revived faith in a great club that has given the world legendary masterpieces in the sport of football. There is almost this artistry with which United seem to have started playing. Some or the other player keeps providing the finesse that wasn’t seen as a regular feature in the Van Gaal era, leave alone Moyes in the dark corner of the past.
To talk about the business end of things, this is how the month of September squares up for Jose Mourinho and his winning Red army. Clearly, the all-important Manchester derby takes the spot for the matchday of the month. A bit of good news for the reluctant fans, the fixture would see Manchester United hosting arch-rivals City in their away kit. Pep Guardiola and his men would travel across the town to seize ties that would never fall off from the headlines.
Apart from the Manchester derby, Old Trafford would play hosts in two more occasions in the month of September in a PL fixture against English champions Leicester City and a Europa League Group A tie against Zorya Luhansk. Somehow, there is this innate itch in the skin of a Red Devil to catch action against Ranieri’s team more eagerly than the home game against Manchester City as on one side there is a rival-clash whereas the other boasts of a status battle in the best league of the world.
The fixture against Noisy Neighbours is the one to grab the most eyeballs. Touted as the English Clasico, this is going to be the most significant match Mourinho faces during his early days. Interestingly, City’s Guardiola would renew his long-lost hostility with his friendly foe Jose. Both of them go a long way back and either of them would just about love to have an opportunity to outwit each other. There is just no middle ground here unless there is a draw which is most likely to happen. September could just not get better. The earlier one of the Manchester sides grabs an advantage or earns dominance over the other, the better chances they have to take as many shots before the final assaults at the Premier League title towards the fag end of the season. Usually, that time in a manager’s career which guarantees quite a few sleepless nights!
Rest assured, United travel to Feyenoord for their opening game of the Europa League that has them in Group A. Followed by a mid-month trip to Watford in what would be their fifth EPL Season 16-’17s matchday. Later, Northampton hosts Mourinho’s men in the EFL Cup Third Round clash. The fixtures are displayed in tabular form as follows:
MANCHESTER UNITED FIXTURES
SEPTEMBER 2016
| Competition | Fixture | Date | Kick-off | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Premier League | Man Utd v Man City | Sat 10 Sep | 12:30 | ||
| Europa League –Group A | Feyenoord v Man Utd | Thu 15 Sep | 18:00 | ||
| Premier League | Watford v Man Utd | Sun 18 Sep | 12:00 | ||
| EFL Cup – Third Round | Northampton v Man Utd | Tue 20 Sep | 19:45 | ||
| Premier League | Man Utd v Leicester | Sat 24 Sep | 12:30 | ||
| Europa League –Group A | Man Utd v Zorya Luhansk | Thu 29 Sep | 20:05 |
The Expected Scene
Jose Mourinho will have a super time shuffling around the team’s starting XI as there is a fully-fit and bustling squad at the start of the month for him to select from. The scene looks set for United as they eye the Manchester derby as the foremost match of the month that would set the rhythm for the rest of the fixtures straight. Mourinho would make sure to welcome noisy neighbours with all guns blazing and would do whatever it takes to post a win at home to strengthen their firm position against title favourites Man City.
Team News
Post win against Hull, Rashford seems to have earned himself a start, Pogba put in a splendid performance against Southampton to see him featuring as the main man alongside Rooney and Zlatan Ibrahimovic as the man of the matches in the following month.
