SHANGHAI: New Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho saw his side get off to a poor start on their tour of China, losing 4-1 to Borussia Dortmund on Friday.

Temperatures of 35 degrees at the 8:00pm kick-off time in Shanghai meant the International Champions Cup match was largely played at a pedestrian pace with frequent breaks to take on water.

Mourinho did not include Wayne Rooney, opting to give his captain more time to get fit after only joining the squad earlier in the week.

A long-range Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang free-kick in the 19th minute was parried by inexperienced 23-year-old goalkeeper Sam Johnstone as it dipped in front of him. The reserve gloveman was forced into a quick double save by Ousmane Dembele’s follow-up but Gonzalo Castro scrambled home at the third attempt from six yards.

United’s woe deepened when Aubameyang doubled Dortmund’s advantage from the penalty spot in the 35th minute after Antonio Valencia handled Castro’s cross.

Dortmund, playing the fifth match of their pre-season campaign, were much sharper than United who just had the single outing against Wigan under their belt before boarding the plane to China.

“This was Formula One against Formula Three, they are much sharper,” said Mourinho.

The second-half exploded into life in the 57th minute.

Frenchman Dembele scored the goal of the night as the summer signing from Rennes turned Marcos Rojo inside-out before burying a right-foot shot into the corner for Dortmund’s third.

Two minutes later new midfielder signing Henrikh Mkhitaryan scored his first goal for United -- against his old employers -- when he slotted into an empty net after being set up unselfishly by Juan Mata.

Dortmund sealed an emphatic win in spectacular style when Castro smashed home a stunner four minutes from time.

United wrap up their tour against Manchester City in Beijing on Monday.

Published in Dawn, July 23rd, 2016