Mourinho reveals he benched Memphis Depay because winger wants to leave

And just one minute later Pogba rose high to direct a header into the top corner, sealing a 2-1 win for the hosts.

Earlier, it was a day of frustration for United – and no-one suffered more than Ibrahimovic.

Not so. As United celebrated, referee Lee Mason disallowed the goal for a foul on Valdes, a decision that seemed extremely harsh on Ibrahimovic as there was no contact when the Swede outjumped the Boro keeper. The odds are with Mourinho, of course, not least because his United side has found a way to win after a frustrating series of draws through the autumn.

Indeed, after initially taking some time to find his best fit, United manager Jose Mourinho appears to have facilitated a synergy amongst his star performers amid some defensive stability, which has enabled his side to take maximum points from their previous four league matches.

“Jose said “Sorry”. He always wants to win, and I wanted to win”.

“It is three very important points for them and (he was) pleased with the performance. It is a position where we have more options”. Man United will go into the match as massive favourites.

Last week West Brom boss Tony Pulis confirmed that the Baggies had made an offer for United midfielder Morgan Schneiderlin.

Boro are tied with Sunderland for 18th with 16 goals scored, ahead of only bottom-dwellers Hull City and have scored just five in going 0-3-5 in their last eight matches outside Riverside Stadium.

Mkhitaryan said his club “idol” is United’s former manager.

Gray scored three times in the first 53 minutes at Turf Moor, with Ashley Barnes netting a penalty before Jermain Defoe replied for the visitors.

Adama Traore robbed Ander Herrera and with his lightning speed, raced clear.

But United, with Martial lively from the start, were soon pressing.

“At the end of the game, we will have a glass of wine, a beer or a Coke and one of us will be happier than the other”. It came to Pogba as he looked to top Mkhitaryan’s effort against Sunderland as he tried the bicycle kick but it came back off the post.

“The best example is the relationship he has with the players when he leaves clubs”.

United, however, were regularly out of luck.

Martial then hit the framework as well, with a rocket of a shot from outside the box. The ball in from Calum Chambers was beautifully headed down by Alvaro Negredo, and it was easy enough for Leadbitter to fire past David De Gea. It’s a very logical choice by the Manchester United manager.