COMMENT: Four goals. A clean sheet. And top of the table. As far as opening weekends go, could it have gone any better for Jose Mourinho and Manchester United?
For the manager, it just fell all into place.
Romelu Lukaku is off the mark. Taking barely a half-hour to end any nagging headache of him doing a Garry Birtles. Indeed, after the Belgian's double, Zlatan Ibrahimovic is even fading from memory. Who'll get the goals? Rom's already gone a long way to answering that.
And the other two names on the scoresheet were just as significant. This time there was no post or crossbar denying Paul Pogba. The midfielder sweeping home from outside Joe Hart's penalty area. And that was after Anthony Martial, the subject of an approach from Tottenham, also finding a way past the West Ham goalkeeper. Mourinho spent week-after-week with Martial last season, trying to shake his self-belief. But nothing works better for a young player than a goal. The manager will be pleased.
As he will with the second of his debutants. Lukaku will dominate the headlines, but Nemanja Matic dominated the game. His 89 touches more than anyother player on the pitch. It was the Serb who sparked the move for Lukaku's opener and the manner of Pogba's effort, United's fourth, was telling. The Frenchman, with Matic safely tucked behind him, driving forward before thumping his shot past Hart. How many times are United fans going to see similar this season?
Going into the game, Mourinho declared United as "his team". Now towards the backend of three transfer windows as United manager, he even claimed his squad was a 'window ahead of schedule'. And on Sunday's showing, it's difficult to disagree.
This was a Mourinho team turning in a Mourinho performance. Power and pace. Bullying and dominant. With the manager's two multi-million pound acquisitions absolutely key.
Martin Keown, the former Arsenal defender, likened Matic's performance to Bryan Robson in his pomp. Let's not go mad. But it was certainly a display to justify Mourinho's concerted push to prise the midfielder away from Chelsea.
Which is really the story from this opening weekend. Lukaku and Matic. Two players Mourinho - the manager - demanded United sign. Ed Woodward, the club's vice-chairman exec, obliged - and on Sunday they delivered.
And the good news could keep on rolling, with Woodward back at the negotiating table for Ivan Perisic. Fali Ramadani, the Croatia midfielder's agent, has been in Manchester over the last 48 hours for face-to-face talks with Woodward. A bumper contract has been tabled by Inter Milan. Perisic is prepared to sign - but will wait if United offer encouragement. Ramadani received as much on Friday and talks between the two clubs are back on. So long as those forms are untouched, Perisic to United remains very much alive.
In contrast, as Mourinho looks south, his old club is scrambling. He won't afford himself just a wry smile, he'll be laughing. Just as he experienced two years ago, history is repeating itself for Antonio Conte at Chelsea. The signings he recommended have not been secured. The warnings of his squad being short and unbalanced ignored. And the manager. Last season's title winning manager. Is the bookies' favourite for the sack. As it all was for Mourinho two years ago.
Like we said, could the weekend have run any better for the Special One?
Oh yeah, it could. Just to twist the knife, Diego Costa is in the press today, not only slating his employers, but talking up his old Blues manager.
"Jose has called me, direct to my phone, just to check I am OK and to see how I am. He wished me good luck," Costa told the Daily Mail. "I never had any problems with Jose, we have a strong relationship. Everyone was very sad when things didn't work out in the end for him at Chelsea."
Bang! Take that Conte. According to Diego, those inside the club are missing Mourinho... But hang on. Wasn't the same being said about the Portuguese two years ago? Of course it was. And of course, Mourinho - well clear of the politicking that dominates Chelsea's front office - can now afford to laugh.
Before Perisic, another new name is expected through the Carrington gates this week.
Bruno Amorim. 19. An attacking midfielder from little Oliveirense. Barely a half dozen first team games under his belt. But he aced his trials this month, after
his agent Pedro Mendes, the former Tottenham midfielder, managed to land him his shot. There's a confidence inside Oliveirense he'll be signed. United were unhappy with directors going public, but Amorim is expected to be offered terms this week.
Levante have held a long-term interest in the midfielder, but for United he's a flyer. A gamble. And one Mourinho has been keeping up to speed.
At United, the manager always has the final say. And after Mourinho's success this summer, would you bet against Bruno Amorim not meeting expectations?