Manchester United made their long awaited return to Champions League football under the management of Jose Mourinho and got off to a winning start with a 3-0 win over FC Basel at Old Trafford.
There are plenty of lessons to be learned from this match, especially for Mourinho’s side who will want his team to play at a quicker tempo to punish teams who sit back as much as Basel did. As for Raphaël Wicky, he will be pleased with his side’s performance on their return to the competition but will know that their matches against United will not decide his side’s destiny.
5Paul Pogba’s injury could prove costly
Manchester United are no strangers to having to compete both domestically and on the European stage due to the fact they took part in the UEFA Europa League last season. They actually went on to win the tournament which is what secured their participation in this year’s Champions League. However, one of the main difficulties in taking part in more than one competition is the injuries and tiredness that can come as a result.
Mourinho had to deal with a significant blow in the first-half as his captain Paul Pogba was forced off through injury. The 24-year-old pulled up with what appeared to be a hamstring injury meaning he could be out for the next six weeks or so. This is, without doubt, a significant blow as Pogba has been one of United’s most influential players so far this season and will be badly missed.
