Football
Ron Dawson 7y

Lukaku, Matic, Rashford and De Gea show why Mourinho is upbeat

Jose Mourinho says he will not get carried away after Manchester United's start to the season.

The United boss said after the 4-0 win over West Ham that the result "means nothing". The inference was that one win, however impressive, does not make a title challenge.

Still, there were plenty of positives at Old Trafford on Sunday.

It has got United fans believing -- cautiously for now -- that their four-year wait for a 21st top-flight title could come to an end in May.

Here's a look at five reasons why the start to the season was encouraging ...

Romelu Lukaku off the mark early

Mourinho says he isn't bothered about who scores the goals as long as someone does. But he will be relieved his new £75 million striker is off the mark.

Lukaku got one in the Super Cup against Real Madrid but his brace against West Ham was more important. That he did it in front of the United fans at Old Trafford is a bonus.

There was plenty of debate about whether Lukaku was the right man when he moved from Everton. Those questions have subsided, at least for now.

The Belgian will still have to prove he can do it in the big games, starting with Liverpool at Anfield on Oct. 14. But he could not have wished for a better start. His challenge now is consistency.

A better conversation rate

One thing that came up again and again with Mourinho last season was a desire for his forwards to be more clinical.

United were the lowest scorers of the Premier League's top seven last season and according to Opta, missed 50 "big chances", more than any other team.

In the 1-1 draw with West Ham at Old Trafford last season -- one of 10 at home -- United had eight shots on target and scored once.

On Sunday, they had six and scored four. That, as Mourinho would have to concede, is much more clinical.

Nemanja Matic

Even with Lukaku's two goals, Matic was the big winner on Sunday. It helped that he played a part in the first goal, rushing out of midfield to crash into Pedro Obiang to set Marcus Rashford free down the left.

His performance was one of calm authority and the Serbian looked like the physical presence in midfield many United fans hoped Marouane Fellaini would be when he arrived four years ago.

It remains a mystery to many inside the United dressing room why Chelsea decided to let Matic go -- although they have all been quick to add that they are happy to have him. Even if Lukaku scores 30 league goals this season, Matic could still end up being Mourinho's signing of the summer.

Marcus Rashford has improved

There is sometimes a danger young players can stall. But judging by his performance against West Ham, Mourinho doesn't have that problem with Rashford.

Lukaku and Matic rightly took the plaudits. But Rashford was impressive, too, setting up Lukaku's first goal and coming close to getting one himself when he hit the inside of the post in the second half.

He made Pablo Zabaleta look every one of his 32 years on his West Ham debut. It was Zabaleta who brought down the teenager which allowed Lukaku to head in Henrikh Mkhitaryan's free kick.

He was good going the other way, as well, and got handshakes from Phil Jones and Daley Blind for tracking Zabaleta 30 yards back to his own goal line in the first half. It is something Mourinho values in his wide men just as much as assists and goals.

David De Gea is still there

It will not grab as many headlines, but keeping David De Gea is as important as signing Lukaku and Matic.

The Spaniard made two good saves against West Ham, as well as a couple against Real Madrid in the Super Cup. United had the second best defensive record in the league last season and De Gea was a big part of that.

If he can have a similar season, and the forwards can solve the goalscoring problem at the other end, United should be close come May.

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