Mourinho apologize to Mkhitaryan for substituting him against Derby County

Jose Mourinho has apologised to Henrikh Mkhitaryan for taking him off at half-time of Manchester United's FA Cup win over Derby County on Friday.

Mkhitaryan was replaced by Romelu Lukaku at the break at Old Trafford.

Goals from Jesse Lingard and Lukaku saw United advance to the fourth round of the FA Cup.

"[It was] unfair [to take Mkhitaryan off] and I told him that at half-time," the United manager said. "I didn't like what I did. He didn't deserve it, he was playing well, he wasn't playing bad.

"He had a couple of missed passes but he was playing well and giving a good dynamic to the team.

"My feeling was just that [Marcus] Rashford is not going to score a goal and because of that I'm not going to lose time and I'm going to play Romelu so then I had to sacrifice a player. Micki was the one that I sacrificed but it's something that I don't normally do but I did at half-time and apologised to him in front of other people because he didn't deserve it."

11 - Jesse Lingard has scored 11 goals in all competitions for Manchester United this season - as many as he scored in 2015/16 and 2016/17 combined. Talent.pic.twitter.com/Ft3R3Ovsuu

— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe)January 5, 2018

On Jesse Lingard form: "It was an amazing strike," he said. "He's in a clear evolution. I think he's comfortable in the positions he plays, I think he's improving with the progressive style of play of the team.

"He's playing progressively in a different way which makes him feel even more like a fish in the water and he's in this moment where things go well for him.

"He's the opposite of Marcus because, in training, he [Marcus] is scoring unbelievable goals but is coming to matches and missing unbelievable chances, hitting the post and the goalkeeper saves, so clearly the players have these moments.

"I'm not worried with Marcus because the good moment will arrive and Jesse, if a negative moment arrives, I don't think he will lose this stability that he's showing. He's mature, he understands the game better, so clearly he's becoming a real player."

Mourinho also praised Lukaku for his quick recovery.

"He is another example of what a Manchester United player has to be," Mourinho added. "A great professional, amazing desire to play. We had to stop him playing against Everton, three days later he is here and working the way he is working and showing his desire, his commitment, so I am really happy for him."