Zlatan Ibrahimovic has helped to put the blockbuster feel back into Manchester United and the striker who has promised to become a footballing god to the club’s fans offered an illustration of his patented sense of occasion.

The curtain-raiser to the Premier League season had been engaging enough, marked by Jesse Lingard’s marvellous solo goal and a deserved Leicester City equaliser from Jamie Vardy, but it looked to be sliding towards a rather artificial penalty shootout conclusion.

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Enter Zlatan. The free-agent signing from Paris Saint-Germain had successfully executed a back-heel with his first touch in the early running – the Swede is addicted to the extravagant. But it was what he did in the 83rd minute that represented his setting down of a marker.

Antonio Valencia stood up a cross towards the far post and Ibrahimovic leapt for it with Wes Morgan, the Leicester captain and not a man easily outmuscled. Ibrahimovic outmuscled him. The header did not pack similar power but the precision was perfect. The ball squeezed past Kasper Schmeichel and went in off the far post. Ibrahimovic was overtaken by delight.

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José Mourinho’s mission is to bring silverware to Old Trafford and, after losing his previous three Community Shields with Chelsea, the new manager has started by locating the trigger for momentum. His broader goal, however, is to bring back the club’s identity which took such a hit under his predecessor, Louis van Gaal.

Mourinho knows it will take time to impose a more high-tempo and direct style, one in which his players look quickly for the space in between the lines, while he has also switched to a zonal marking system. Pre-season has brought its frustrations, particularly the lost week in China, following the cancellation of the friendly against Manchester City. His United is clearly a work in progress.

But with Mourinho and Ibrahimovic on board – and Paul Pogba to follow for €110m (£93m) – the swagger is back. Mourinho is not only comfortable with great expectations; he encourages them. In the cool Wembley air, it was possible to detect the shoots of optimism, not least when the trophy was hoisted to the sky. If nothing else, it was pleasing to see United look forward as though they meant it when they had the ball.

Leicester contributed fully to the occasion, which continues to occupy a curious space in the English game. It is a showpiece friendly or a competitive match, in the manner of, say, the Spanish Super Cup? Do goals officially count towards a player’s tally for the season? Nobody seems to know, for sure.

The Premier League champions – yes, it really did happen – were a match for United, which boded well for the challenges ahead, and they might have taken the lead in the first half through Shinji Okazaki. He saw a shot deflect narrowly wide and he hit the crossbar with a header from Marc Albrighton’s corner.

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Leicester were value for Vardy’s equaliser while the new signing Ahmed Musa, who came on as a substitute, looked pacey and threatening. There were reasons for Claudio Ranieri, who feels that his team is only at 60% of its capacity, to be cheerful. They may have lost the element of surprise but their qualities remain. Ranieri said his target for the season was 40 points. Where have we heard that before?

Lingard – whose screaming volley had won the FA Cup last May – brought the game to life. The winger collected Wayne Rooney’s square pass and he exploded away from two blue shirts before surging around a third in Robert Huth and riding Morgan’s head-on slide challenge. It was not Morgan’s day. When Danny Simpson could not get across in time, Lingard had opened up the one-on-one with Schmeichel. The finish with his right instep was nerveless.

Apart from Andy King for N’Golo Kanté, who has been lured to Chelsea, Ranieri’s starting XI was the one that had fired last season’s fairytale. Perhaps there was an element of personal reward for his champions. Leicester do not play at Wembley every year. It was their first appearance since 2000, when they beat Tranmere Rovers in the League Cup final. Ranieri introduced three of his five summer signings in the second half, Luis Hernández and Papy Mendy following on from Musa.

Mourinho’s selection had more talking points. Lingard justified his inclusion ahead of Henrikh Mkhitaryan, one of the club’s three new boys, while that of Marouane Fellaini in midfield raised a few eyebrows. Eric Bailly, another new signing, looked extremely promising in central defence even if he made a few mistakes. The 22-year-old showcased his pace and strength.

Mourinho’s keenness to get Mkhitaryan on for a taste of the action in stoppage time resulted in the decision to hook Juan Mata, who had entered as a 63rd‑minute substitute. Given Mourinho’s history with Mata at Chelsea it was difficult not to over-analyse. Mata walked through the mixed zone afterwards without talking but with a look that suggested people ought to know why.

Leicester’s equaliser was a horrible moment for Fellaini, who underhit an attempted back-pass for David De Gea, which allowed Vardy to nip in and finish. United lost Lingard after he was caught by King’s slide challenge and there were second-half chances for Ibrahimovic, Musa and, at the very last, the Leicester substitute, Demarai Gray. By then, Ibrahimovic had bent the game to his will.