Rooney out of Manchester United-Sunderland

Very calm, very pragmatic, giving me good conditions to work and the players and people that surround me.

Toppling forward, Henrikh Mkhitaryan looked like he’d misjudged the right-wing cross as he surged into the box seeking a clinching goal for Manchester United.

City coach Pep Guardiola hasn’t given his players much time to celebrate Christmas, with his plans for December 25 consisting of a morning training session followed by a bus trip to the northern city of Hull. I was expecting the ball in front of me but I was already in front.

‘As the ball was behind me, the only thing I could do was a backheel so I did that and I succeeded’.

“I’ve chosen this way to play”, he said. And to be back not just (with) the goal, I think he also brought quality with his performance.

JOSE MOURINHO: “Of course, all his career he’s scored handsome goals”. All his career he has scored lovely goals. Two passes we had [which went astray].

MF Ander Herrera, 7 – After a slightly sluggish start, misplacing passes that he would normally have completed, he then came into his own, pressing and playmaking at his usual high tempo.

Eric Bailly returned to full training earlier this week after recovering from a minor knee injury which kept him out of the win over West Brom so the Ivorian could come back in to the defence. He was not feeling very comfortable. They are unbeaten in their last ten games and are climbing up the league.

“But in this moment I’m happy with what I’m doing and I’m going to chase the ultimate happiness in football, which is winning matches and winning titles”.

Mourinho has expressed confidence that Ibrahimovic would exercise the second-year option in his contract to remain at the Old Trafford.

“It’s not activated yet but it is activated in his brain”, said Mourinho. “And in my decisions and the owners and the board’s”.

“We actually offered him a bigger deal than Real Madrid but Gareth had his mind made up”.

Moyes, 53, lasted just 10 months as United manager after succeeding his Scottish compatriot Alex Ferguson at the helm in May 2013. I enjoyed it, he enjoyed it.

It was only a consolation goal though for the visitors as United made it four wins in a row in the Premier League.

Though United’s win will be remembered by a Henrikh Mkhitaryan goal which the Armenian described on Monday night as the “best goal I ever scored”, Ibrahimovic’s all-round contribution was even better and he was arguably man of the match.

Zlatan Ibrahimovic was again a decisive figure with a goal and two assists, while Paul Pogba also impressed as David Moyes was defeated on his return to Old Trafford. Sunderland were more adventurous than on their recent visit to Anfield, with Patrick van Aanholt and Victor Anichebe both testing David de Gea.

Pogba added to that pass total on Ibrahimovic’s goal, hitting his teammate with a flawless setup as Ibrahimovic was streaking down the middle of the field before putting the ball into the right corner of the net.

On the reception from United fans, he added: “I thought it was fine”.

“Easy to feel good in the club, easy to feel that the club wants to progress, the people want to be happy again and I felt good immediately”. We stifled them a wee bit and stuck at it. Booked: Blind. Next up: Middlesbrough (h) Sat, PL.

Mourinho was incensed when referee Martin Atkinson ignored strong appeals for a penalty after Lamine Kone appeared to bundle over Mata.