Mata set to miss rest of season after groin surgery

"We had a really good talk and he discussed what he wanted from me and, even in a week-and-a-half, I have seen a massive change in myself, not just on the pitch but off it as well", the defender added.

"We had an easy game to play in the second half, and we didn't play in an attacking sense".

The second leg against Anderlecht comes on Thursday and then they go to Turf Moor next Sunday for another.

United, who play Premier League leaders Chelsea on Sunday, have a hectic schedule and face a fight to qualify for next season's Champions League.

"It was very important for me to get those minutes, they were a good 60 minutes".

When asked if he was impressed with the performance of 19-year-old striker Marcus Rashford, who was arguably the Red Devils' greatest threat going forward, Mourinho said: "The same as the others".

Mourinho also said central defenders Phil Jones and Chris Smalling, who were injured on global duty with England last month, will not return to the squad until mid-May.

Antonio Conte's side hold a seven point lead at the top, but Tottenham can temporarily trim the gap to four if they beat Bournemouth at White Hart Lane in Saturday's early kick-off. "It is also because they have individual quality. collective quality". "There is no other chance".

"But, in this moment, we are in this situation where we have two matches in hand and if we win both matches, we are in the top four".

"When we come away from the game we'll think that a 1-1 draw away in Europe is not the end of the world, but we're better than that". We have to fight for every game, so it's fantastic mentality by Eric and by Marcos, but we have to go'. He wants to try and win with his team. This despite having also been taunted by some Chelsea fans with chants of "You're not special any more" and "It's all your fault" - a reference to the club's lack of European football, having finished 10th last season after Mourinho's sacking in December 2015.

"But I don't like to make a choice between two of my players".

Manchester United are Sky Bet's 6/4 favourits for the victory with Chelsea marginal outsiders at 9/5, while the draw is priced at 11/5.

It promises to be an explosive battle between Diego Costa and Marcos Rojo.

Jose Mourinho's side were purring, however, and they deservedly made the breakthrough in the 37th minute when Mkhitaryan converted from a wide angle after Ruben had got down well to keep out a testing strike from Rashford, whose pace caused the hosts all sorts of problems in the opening 45 minutes.