Jamie Carragher made his return to Sky Sports as Manchester United beat Leicester 2-1 in the opening game of the new Premier League season.

Paul Pogba's early penalty and the first goal of Luke Shaw's career ensured Jamie Vardy's stoppage-time strike was merely a consolation.

It was vital that the Red Devils got their campaign off to a solid start in light of the negativity that has surrounded the club this summer, though Jose Mourinho must shoulder some responsibility for it.

The Portuguese was not shy in voicing his unhappiness at the club's relative lack of activity in the transfer market, with only Fred, Diogo Dalot, and third-choice goalkeeper Lee Grant arriving at Old Trafford.

While the Brazilian midfielder made his competitive debut - and a fiery one at that, upsetting Leicester fans with a crunching tackle on Demarai Gray - this was essentially the same United as last season, minus some of those who featured at the World Cup such as Romelu Lukaku.

Carragher, who was suspended from commentary last March following his infamous spitting incident, was discussing Mourinho's displeasure ahead of the game and admitted he can see why there have been tensions between the board and the former Chelsea, Inter Milan, and Real Madrid boss.

Carragher feels sorry for Mourinho 

"I have sympathy with Jose Mourinho," he said, quoted via the Sun.

"The reason why is when he came to this club it was on the back of two managerial appointments by Ed Woodward that didn't work.

"So he got Mourinho in not because he fitted the style but because he wanted to win right now and Mourinho's a man who wanted to win right now.

"That's why sometimes he looks for players in their 20s or early 30s because they win.

"You can't then start saying the philosophy's changed a few years in otherwise you've got the wrong manager."

Ed Woodward was seemingly reluctant to back Mourinho, failing to bring in the new centre-back that he had asked for, whether that was Toby Alderweireld, Harry Maguire, or Jerome Boateng.

There will be plenty of eyes on the Theatre of Dreams this term to see whether Mourinho can indeed make do with the players he has and nurture some of his young talents, having been unable to make the big changes to his squad that he has been accustomed to throughout his career.

Of course, plenty of fans won't share Carragher's view and it remains to be seen whether that includes the likes of Woodward.  

Do you feel sorry for Mourinho at United? Have your say in the comments.