Hailed as the transfer coup of the season during the transfer window, Henrikh Mkhitaryan’s season for new club Manchester United never really kicked off. He was completely out of the first-team picture under manager Jose Mourinho after a disappointing display in the Manchester derby, where he was hauled off at half-time.
Having played only 134 minutes in a disappointing start to life in England, the Armenian was finally given a chance by the Portuguese in the Europa League fixture against Feyenoord on Thursday. His selection was met with much anticipation by the fans and pundits alike with everyone eager to see the 27-year old strut out his immense talent at Old Trafford.
And Mkhitaryan too must have been itching for a chance to show what he is capable of, after the derby debacle. And he did not let his manager down on the night.
Mourinho started the former Dortmund player on the left side of the three men behind Ibrahimović. Keen on impressing the fans and manager, Mkhitaryan fired three shots in the first 45 minutes of the game, only one less that his total attempts for United before this game.
However, there were some signs of rustiness, as the Armenian finished the first-half with only 33 touches, only two other players had fewer touches, a lethargic Zlatan and goalkeeper Sergio Romero. He also failed to make a single interception or a tackle throughout the first period.
Despite these facts, Mkhitaryan showed signs of his true quality. His link-up play with the other United attackers in and around the danger area was a sight to watch. He almost found himself through on goal, after a neat one-two with captain Wayne Rooney, but for an over-hit final ball by the English forward. Another lovely exchange between the pair saw Mkhitaryan almost get onto an Ibrahimović delivery.
And he stepped it up a notch in the second-half. Soon after the restart, he was relentless in his pressing as he pressurised Feyenoord right-back Richard Karsdorp into making mistakes. Within 4 minutes of the second-half, he saw another of his shot blocked at close range.
Not a minute after that, he took off on a breathtaking run, from deep inside his half, breezing past three Feyenoord players, until he was hacked down by Jens Toornstra, which surprisingly wasn’t adjudged as foul by the referee.
The 27-year old was in his elements from then on, as he was involved in everything positive for United. His combination play with the 35-year old Swede almost led to a goal, with Mkhitaryan smashing the ball into the side netting from a tight angle. He combined again with Rooney and Zlatan opening up the Dutch side’s defence with utmost ease.
He almost capped off his performance on the night with a goal, as he was positioned to hit home a Zlatan cut-back, if not for Feyenoord goalkeeper Brad Jones diverting the ball into his own net.
For a player expected to be lacking in match fitness and sharpness after spending so much time on the sidelines, Mkhitaryan hardly put a foot wrong against the Dutch opponents.
A distinct lack of pace in United’s forward line might have given him some fewer options to pick out runners the way he did playing alongside the likes of Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang at Dortmund. But his rapid exchanges with Rooney, Mata and Ibrahimović did inject a much-needed pace in United’s attack.
He may have finished the match without a goal or an assist, but the applause he received on being substituted late in the second-half showed that he had left his mark, made a huge statement after being provided with an opportunity to revive his United career.
Welcome to Old Trafford, Henrikh Mkhitaryan!