6 Talking Points From Wembley

Manchester United lifted the Community Shield at Wembley Stadium on Sunday after Zlatan Ibrahimovic’s goal secured a 2-1 win over Premier League champions Leicester City. ManUtd.com’s Mark Froggatt was in the press box to highlight six key talking points...

LINGARD LOVES WEMBLEY
Jesse Lingard etched his name into Reds history by scoring a famous extra-time winner in last season’s FA Cup final and, exactly 77 days later, the Academy graduate was celebrating at the same end of Wembley Stadium once again. His mazy dribble and composed finish opened the scoring against the Foxes, making him the first United player to score in the FA Cup final and subsequent Community Shield since Eric Cantona in 1996. That’s excellent company for the lifelong Red to keep.

ZLATAN FULFILLED HIS PROMISE
“I came here to win trophies – not to waste time,” explained a typically cocksure Ibrahimovic during his pre-match interview with MUTV, and the Swedish striker kept his word too when he scored a dramatic winner to cap his official debut for the club. The 34-year-old rose like a salmon at the back post to head Antonio Valencia’s lofted cross past Kasper Schmeichel, before celebrating in front of the thousands of Reds supporters inside the national stadium. It was a fitting introduction and United’s new no.9 has formally introduced himself to English football by doing what he does best.

ANOTHER ASSIST FOR VALENCIA
A week after registering three assists in the 5-2 win over Galatasaray, Ecuadorian powerhouse Antonio Valencia was at it again by beating his marker and supplying the cross from which Zlatan headed in off the post. It’s a positive sign to suggest the 2012 Sir Matt Busby Player of the Year is high on confidence and reaping the rewards of Mourinho’s coaching at the Aon Training Complex.

BAILLY IS A BEAST
Yes, Ibrahimovic’s name was splashed across the headlines, but Eric Bailly left Wembley Stadium with the club’s Man of the Match award after earning 77 per cent of voted cast on Twitter. The Ivory Coast international was fully deserving of the prize following an accomplished performance that emphasised his excellent potential. He was strong, powerful and comfortable on the ball, executing one particularly impressive sliding tackle on Jamie Vardy during the first half of action.

SHAW WAS EXCELLENT
Although he made four appearances in pre-season – against Wigan Athletic, Borussia Dortmund, Galatasaray and Everton – this was Luke Shaw’s first competitive match since suffering a double fracture of the leg last September and he was excellent, earning a Man of the Match nomination from former United manager Ron Atkinson on MUTV. The 21-year-old left-back bombed up and down the left flank throughout his 69-minute outing, providing a consistent ally for Anthony Martial while defending stoutly in front of watching England manager Sam Allardyce. It’s still early days and we don’t want to tempt fate, but 2016/17 looks set to be a much more positive season.

TWENTY-ONE AND COUNTING
United have now won 21 Community Shields and, coincidentally, Mourinho has now won the same amount of trophies. The manager wants many more, of course, and he has already challenged his players to win the Premier League title - the club's 21st championship crown.

Credit: Manutd.com