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LONDON. — As Jose Mourinho came out of the tunnel for his first game in charge of Manchester United, one name reverberated around the DW Stadium on Saturday.
Just not his.
Instead, he emerged to the strains of “Will Grigg’s On Fire”, the Wigan cult song that became the unofficial anthem of Euro 2016. The Northern Ireland striker overshadowed even Mourinho temporarily. But not for long.
The United fans soon changed the soundtrack with a chorus of Mourinho’s name. They serenaded him. It was a 90-minute celebration of the newcomer. A love affair began.
Mourinho said: “For the first time in my career, the support was like it was a crucial Premier League match. Unbelievable.”
He got what he wanted from a trip to Wigan — a win. His two debutants, who cost United £57million, made encouraging debuts. Mourinho was dressed casually in a tracksuit as he ran the rule over his new charges.
Even with 12 players who were at Euro 2016 or the Copa America missing, Mourinho fielded 22 men.
He made seven half-time changes. Fringe figures were unlikely scorers. The first goal of Mourinho’s reign came from Will Keane.
It was a tap-in when the substitute striker, who has never scored a competitive goal for United, was set up by the unselfish Juan Mata after a poor clearance from keeper Jussi Jaaskelainen. — The Daily Express.
Online Reporter