Mkhitaryan could start against West Ham after excellent performance midweek, admits Mourinho

Rooney’s display against the Dutch side, during which he set up Juan Mata for United’s second goal, was his best of what has been a disjointed season. “We could cope with Manchester for 70 minutes, but after 70 minutes you could see the difference in quality”. The win means the Red Devils need only a draw in their final group match at Ukrainian side Zorya Luhansk next month to advance to the knockout round of the Europa.

“He’s good, but we’re talking Manchester United, you need to be one of the best strikers in the world to be the regular striker here”. “I think when you’re a person like that, when you’re famous like that, people are interested; they want to know everything”. Feyenoord had struck late to defeat United in the reverse fixture in Rotterdam, but any thoughts of a repeat were banished 10 minutes before half-time as Rooney rolled back the clock in style.

Anthony Martial missed out on the matchday squad versus Feyenoord and Mourinho feels the France worldwide could be struggling to adapt to a different style of play following Louis van Gaal’s departure.

“(On Thursday) we scored four, but I think we missed also three or four chances.

Mourinho praised Mkhitaryan in a post-match interview but insisted the former Borussia Dortmund playmaker must keep performing to nail down a place in his starting XI.

Ibrahimovic completed a free transfer to Manchester United from Ligue 1 champions Paris Saint-Germain in the summer transfer window as he became the second signing of the Mourinho era.

“It’s probably the positions where we have more options. I can not play them all at the same time”.

“But I see the improvement, I see the team that is hungry and alive and the points were there for us in a very hard away game”.

Mkhitaryan perhaps needs a few more games for full sharpness – no surprise there – but Rooney’s sharpness was the story of the match.

“It [Rooney’s record] is an fantastic achievement and will be even better if he can help bring to the club the only competition never won in their history”, said Mourinho.

When asked if it was a new start for the midfielder, Mkhitaryan added: “I hope so, let’s see”.

The next match is at home to West Ham, a team in terrible form and whose record at Old Trafford is hugely indifferent. They have not left with a victory since Carlos Tevez provided the only goal in a 1-0 win May 13, 2007.

United travel to London Stadium to face West Ham in the Premier League on Sunday.