Manchester United vs Southampton preview

Manchester United look to build on their positive performance against Bournemouth last week. Southampton have proved to be something of a bogey team for the Red Devils in the past.

Paul Pogba’s debut?

Jose Mourinho gave a press conference Thursday and hinted that £89 million new signing Paul Pogba will make his debut at Old Trafford on Friday. Telling MUTV the world record signing can play “some minutes” against Southampton. http://www.manutd.com/en/News-And-Features/Football-News/2016/Aug/team-news-for-manchester-united-v-southampton-premier-league.aspx

Eric Bailly has been a welcome surprise;

The new Manchester United boss talked about the new signing really catching the eye in the opening two games. “He is a young boy playing in a completely different competition with a different club, but despite all the pressure and expectation that comes with playing for United, he plays against Leicester at Wembley and is comfortable, leading and communicative.”

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Bailly really has been a revelation in his opening couple of games, making some scything tackles that the club has missed since losing Nemanja Vidic. He rightfully earned the man of the match award in the opening Premier League game. Even earning the praise of former Liverpool midfielder Jamie Redknapp calling the £30m summer signing from Villarreal “excellent value for money.”

Mourinho went on to speak about Zlatan’s happiness, making Old Trafford a fortress once again and his own personal goals at the club. Watch the entire press conference here; https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5U4fHVnKnO8

What can we expect from the first home game this season?

Manchester United go into Friday’s game with a fair bit of confidence after dispatching Bournemouth 3-1. In a game that could have easily been mistaken for a midseason match in which one team was challenging for the title and the other was battling relegation. Yes United looked strong despite certain lineup decisions that left us scratching our heads; Looking at you Marouane Fellani. But it cannot be ignored that Bournemouth did not look like a team opening their 2^nd season in the top flight at home with some big summer signings themselves. In fact it was quite the opposite; Bournemouth looked fearful going forward, like they were playing the Manchester United of Sir Alex Ferguson’s era. Only notably attacking for the 69^th minute goal and a last minute penalty area scramble.

Southampton should prove a sterner test for Manchester United as they continue to defy critics every season after their team is regularly raided for talent by the bigger clubs. This summer they lost strikers Sadio Mane and Graziano Pelle, and even manager Ronald Koeman.

New boss Claude Puel is hopeful he can convince Captain Jose Fonte to stay this season and have Southampton once again obtain a very respectful league position. Having being held to a 1-1 with Watford on opening day Southampton will not be rolling over and will hope to test the new Mourinho Manchester United.