Zlatan delivers as Mourinho era begins with Community Shield victory

Who else?

Zlatan Ibrahimovic nodded in the winner in his Manchester United debut to see off Leicester City by a 2-1 scoreline in Sunday's Community Shield clash.

The Swede was a peripheral figure for much of the tie but, as has been the case for much of the journeyed 34-year-old's career, he provided the pivotal moment, rising above Wes Morgan to head beyond a despairing Kasper Schmeichel on 83 minutes.

Related - Watch: Zlatan soars to give United late winner over Leicester

United had opened the scoring in the first half in sensational fashion through Jesse Lingard's weaving dash through five Leicester players, but his effort was cancelled out by Jamie Vardy seven minutes after the break when he jeopardised on a disastrous back pass by Marouane Fellaini.

But thanks to Ibrahimovic, Jose Mourinho guided his new side to its 21st triumph in English football's traditional curtain-raiser.

The Red Devils support entered Wembley abuzz with the news that Paul Pogba was set for a medical with the club ahead of his record-breaking, £93-million-plus transfer from Juventus. The saga was finally reaching a conclusion in a move that's intended to vault United back into the European elite.

Following a scrappy opening the first stanza, Leicester began to boss possession with Danny Drinkwater his usual combative self. Vardy's pace and enthusiasm ensured Eric Bailly was busy on his major United bow, but it was Shinji Okazaki who came closest to handing his side the lead.

The Japan international had a deflected effort swerve tantalisingly wide after being teed up by Vardy, before directing a header onto the bar from the resulting corner.

Twelve minutes later, however, United took the lead against the run of play through Lingard, the match-winner of May's FA Cup final against Crystal Palace.

Just a couple of steps ahead of the centre circle, the 23-year-old evaded the attentions of five Leicester players in an explosive, meandering run, and then saw his resulting effort flick in off the left foot of Schmeichel.

Related - Watch: Lingard slalom run gives United Community Shield opener

Not a bad way for the local lad to stake a claim for a starting berth amid the arrivals of £30-million Henrikh Mkhitaryan and Pogba.

The second half began in a familiar disjointed fashion, with Vardy's equaliser coming courtesy of a mindless bit of play from Fellaini.

Ahmed Musa, introduced as a substitute at the break for his competitive Foxes debut, offered a valuable injection of pace, and was streaking down the left before his pass toward Vardy was intercepted by the leggy Belgian. With the hard work done, Fellaini then proceeded to play a fluffed back pass right into the path of Vardy.

Related - Watch: Vardy pounces on Fellaini's gaffe to level Community Shield

Honours even, and Fellaini's calls for a spot in the first XI couldn't have had more of a contrasting affect than Lingard's.

The match was then fiercely contested, as Andy King, Bailly, and Vardy were all booked, joining Danny Simpson's yellow in the first 45 minutes after he appeared to grow tired of being eviscerated by Anthony Martial.

Given the Community Shield's status as an unofficial preseason friendly, a flurry of substitutes were made by both managers. Claudio Ranieri introduced new boys Nampalys Mendy and Luis Hernandez for their first Leicester appearances, while Mourinho concluded his six introductions with a few minutes for Mkhitaryan.

The Armenian's initiation came after Ibrahimovic's winner, and rival Premier League clubs must be dreading the sight of the cultured forward reeling away in celebration potentially becoming all-too familiar.

"I feel very good," said the winner of 13 top-flight titles postgame. "The team is fantastic. Good teammates, good spirit. The coach does everything to win. It is probably the biggest club I played in. The only one I can compare it to is Milan."