beIN SPORTS

By Graham Ruthven (@grahamruthven)

Everything is different, yet strangely familiar. The players are different, the manager is different, even the kit manufacturer and shirt sponsors are different, but Manchester United’s 2-0 win over Southampton on Friday was quintessentially Manchester United. On this basis, they’re back.

Of course, trophies aren’t handed out two games into the season, but there’s a look to United again. The kind of look they have lacked since the retirement of Sir Alex Ferguson three years ago. The kind of look that sees them eyeing up the Premier League title, even at this stage.

There’s an aura to Man Utd once again. They certainly didn’t play at their best against Southampton on Friday, but the result was never in any real doubt. There was a self-assurance to their play, as if every player in red knew that one way or another they would find a way to get the job done. Jose Mourinho talked this summer about instilling a winning mentality at Old Trafford and it appears he has already made progress on that front.

It’s also down to the players on the pitch, though. Zlatan Ibrahimovic has become the spiritual leader of United in a very short space of time. Wayne Rooney might hold the captain’s armband, but the Swede is the one leading the line, taking the penalties and generally setting the tone, with three goals in his first two Premier League appearances.

Ibrahimovic is the embodiment of United under Mourinho and is the new figurehead of the Old Trafford club. But Paul Pogba also teased at what could follow his arrival as the world’s most expensive player, impressing in spells on his debut for his new, old team. On this showing, the Frenchman won’t have an issue dealing with the expectation heaped on his shoulders.

Having trained for just 10 days before Friday’s game, there were signs of rustiness from Pogba, but there were also glimpses of his brilliance. His drive and energy through the middle will give Man Utd a new dimension, with Southampton struggling to get a grip of him at times during the match. He will get better as he gets fitter and that is a frightening proposition for the rest of the league, because his debut was impressive enough as it was.

The signing of Eric Bailly also looks an astute one two games into the Ivorian’s Premier League career. He picked up the man of the match award in the season opener against Bournemouth and once again looked unflustered and solid in his home debut. Comparisons have already been drawn with Nemanja Vidic and Bailly indeed looks to be the no-nonsense centre-back needed at Old Trafford since the Serbian’s exit.

But most significantly, United are a team with personalty again. That was always likely to be the case with Mourinho now at the helm, but he has found the players to reflect his own character on the pitch. This isn’t exactly a typical Mourinho side - there is much more scope for attacking intent and individual expression - but in terms of spirit, United have taken on the traits of their new boss very quickly.

That’s what makes Man Utd’s start to the new Premier League season so ominous. We’ve all seen this before, both from the Old Trafford club and Mourinho. Both parties know this path well, but this is the first time they will have walked it together. The Portuguese always viewed this as his dream job and it looks, at least on early indications, to be a perfect match.

There is still plenty time for things to unravel, with the first Manchester derby of the season on September 10 a defining watershed in both United and City’s campaigns. However, Mourinho and his new team have got off to an impressive start. At the very least, Man Utd finally look like Man Utd again.