Friday 30 September 2016 09:07, UK
Jose Mourinho praised Wayne Rooney's contribution as he came off the bench to help Manchester United to victory against Zorya Luhansk in the Europa League.
Having lost their Group A opener at Feyenoord a fortnight ago, the Portuguese highlighted the importance of securing victory against the relatively unknown Ukrainians at Old Trafford.
Zlatan Ibrahimovic's close-range header secured a 1-0 win that kick starts their campaign ahead of October's home clash with Fenerbahce.
Mourinho accepted United did not play "amazingly well" against Zorya but got the job done, saying he was impressed with Wayne Rooney impact after coming off the bench for a second successive match.
"He was laughing and saying he made a great assist," the United boss said, regarding his strike into the ground led to Ibrahimovic's winner.
"But, really, he gave me what the team needs at that time, which is a presence, a second presence in the box.
"He is more a striker than Juan (Mata) and Juan went more to the right side. (Anthony) Martial brought, after the goal, freshness and speed, also to try to kill the game, which we didn't but he was a positive presence, too.
"We started the game with a very good team and I had on the bench also players to give me solutions for everything.
"We have proof to win matches in the Europa League that we need to be good, we need to play seriously because they are good teams."
Mourinho called United's upcoming fixture schedule a "poisoned gift", making him all the more relieved to get a much-needed win against Zorya.
United will be looking to rack up fourth straight win in all competitions when Stoke City arrive at Old Trafford on Sunday lunchtime.
The game marks the start of a gruelling October schedule for United, who travel to Liverpool and Chelsea in the Premier League and before hosting Manchester City in the EFL Cup in a frantic 12-day period.
We started the game with a very good team and I had on the bench also players to give me solutions for everything.
"The poisoned gift is already there, so what can you do?" Mourinho added. "We just have to play Monday, and then Thursday, and then Stamford Bridge on the Sunday.
"But before that we have Stoke, so let us concentrate on Stoke because it is another poisoned gift because Stoke is not what the table says.
"The manager is very good, the players are good, the team is good, so when I look to the table, that's not Stoke's position. I play against a good Stoke and not the Stoke is in that position in the table."
