The first big six game of the Premier League season and the only one on the opening weekend was a total laugher. Only one team was big today, United, who trounced the visiting Blues 4-0. It was a match that lacked energy at first, but once United got going they would never look back.
Let’s run through some of the news, notes, nuggets and tidbits from this one, starting with Frank Lampard’s shock decision to leave Christian Pulisic on the bench at the beginning. (For part two of news and notes go here)
This was supposed to be a major event, the arrival of the most talented American in history to the biggest club ever to sign a Yank for a major headliner role. And we didn’t even see him until the 58′, when he was subbed on for Ross Barkley in the left side of the midfield.
Within a minute or so, Pulisic found himself down on the Old Trafford pitch, writhing in pain. He had a very quick “welcome to the physical play of the Premier League buddy.” The 20-year-old wasn’t a major factor today at all, but at least he got to make his PL debut against the team that he loved growing up.
What day for the new guys. Maguire, AWB, James & Pulisic getting to see their team win emphatically. pic.twitter.com/EnqfF7y53c
— United Religion (@Unitedology) August 11, 2019
That said, social media had a lot of fun with the surprise of Pulisic being benched.
Here are a couple of the more notable Twitter postings- sound on, but language NSFW.
https://twitter.com/PassingTheSaIt/status/1160565880419487744
https://twitter.com/Annnoying10005/status/1160564784011587584
The final goal of the game was scored by new addition Daniel James, and when you watch the video below, you’ll see just how much it really meant to him. It’s a beautiful sight- a perfect example of the purity of the game being played by someone who loves it.
You can really see how much it means to the winger acquired from Swansea City this summer. And this goal was only made possible due to the sublime assist from Paul Pogba. When the Frenchman is on his game, and fully motivated, he can really be the best midfielder in the world- on that given day.
Pogba left the pitch in very high spirits after the huge win, giving his shirt away to a very lucky fan.
Pogba making Daniel James score on his debute with a brilliant assist but he will still get hate from some United fans. pic.twitter.com/ZPEUUopeU2
— Galu ?? (@PSGalu) August 11, 2019
However, the man of the match was truly Marcus Rashford, who bagged a brace, including the game-winner, which came off a penalty kick. Rash sent a message with his play today, and that message was “no Lukaku, no problem.”
As you can see below, Rashford’s second scoring strike was indeed a thing of beauty:
https://twitter.com/D9INE_FUTBOL/status/1160595726725812224
Either United are a lot better than people think they’re going to be this season, or Chelsea are really in for a very long season; or maybe it’s some of both.
Paul M. Banks runs The Sports Bank.net, which is partnered with News Now. Banks, the author of “No, I Can’t Get You Free Tickets: Lessons Learned From a Life in the Sports Media Industry,” regularly appears on WGN CLTV and co-hosts the “Let’s Get Weird, Sports” podcast on SB Nation.
You can follow Banks, a former writer for NBC Chicago.com and Chicago Tribune.com on Twitter here and his cat on Instagram at this link.