Mourinho drops Mkhitaryan, confirms 'not a pure tactical decision'

"I would lie if I said it was just a pure tactical decision," the manager told reporters before the match. "It was just a choice of the players that we know, in this moment, they have 100 per cent their heads in Manchester United, and no doubts about the future.

"I don't think it's easy for a player to play when there are doubts about his future. It's added pressure that a player doesn't need, so I think it's the best for him and it's the best for us, while the doubt is in the air, to protect him."

Mkhitaryan, 28, has been linked to a transfer window move to Arsenal, where he could act as a makeweight in any deal for Alexis Sanchez.

He has also suffered with injury since his arrival from Borussia Dortmund in 2016.