Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho on Henrikh Mkhitaryan: He is evolving... we know why we bought him and we were waiting for this

Jose Mourinho feels Henrikh Mkhitaryan is evolving into the player he wanted when the Manchester United manager sanctioned the £26million signing in the summer.

Mkhitaryan put in a man of the match performance against West Ham on Wednesday night as United progressed into the EFL Cup semi-finals with a 4-1 win.

Mourinho was serving a touchline ban for the tie but spoke afterwards about Mkhitaryan, who assisted two goals with one a backheel for Zlatan Ibrahimovic.

Jose Mourinho spoke about Henrikh Mkhitaryan after the easy win for Manchester United

Jose Mourinho spoke about Henrikh Mkhitaryan after the easy win for Manchester United

Mourinho feels Mkhitaryan is turning into the player he hoped he would be when he signed

Mourinho feels Mkhitaryan is turning into the player he hoped he would be when he signed

Mkhitaryan was instrumental in Manchester United's 4-1 win over West Ham on Wednesday

Mkhitaryan was instrumental in Manchester United's 4-1 win over West Ham on Wednesday

'I'm so happy because today was against a Premier League team with Premier League qualities with Premier League characteristics,' Mourinho told Sky Sports


'That showed clearly his evolution. Against Feyenoord we could think, "OK it is a different profile of football" but today was against a proper and typical Premier League team and Micky could perform this way. So I'm really happy. 

EFL CUP SEMI-FINAL DRAW

Manchester United v Hull City

Southampton v Liverpool

 

First leg to take place w/c January 9

Second leg to take place w/c January 23 

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'We know the reason why we bought him and we were waiting for his adaptation and it looks like it's coming.'

Ibrahimovic and Anthony Martial scored two apiece on Wednesday to secure the 4-1 win against West Ham and set up a two-legged semi-final with Hull City.

Mkhitaryan was asked how he felt about his performance afterwards and answered: 'I'm more pleased we won.

'It was a very important game because now we are in the semi-finals. I think we did a good job and we've got to keep going.'

Mkhitaryan put in a man of the match performance at Old Trafford on Wednesday night

Mkhitaryan put in a man of the match performance at Old Trafford on Wednesday night

Mkhitaryan joined Manchester United for £26million from Borussia Dortmund in the summer

Mkhitaryan joined Manchester United for £26million from Borussia Dortmund in the summer

On whether it would be a dream to get to a Wembley final, he added: 'Maybe it is a dream but that is not the main goal. 

'We have to be focussed for the next game. Then we will see what happens.'

United play Everton in the Premier League next but will have to make do without Wayne Rooney, who is suspended after picking up his fifth booking of the season. 

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