Fans frustrated over Mkhitaryan’s absence; Mourinho offers explanation

PanARMENIAN.Net - After Jose Mourinho had confirmed that Henrikh Mkhitaryan was fit there was uproar as he was left out of Manchester United’s Europa League clash with Fenerbahce entirely, Le Buzz reports.

Amid a wave of tweets from angry fans, Mourinho revealed Mkhitaryan’s lack of match fitness is the reason why he missed the clash with Fenerbahce on Thursday, October 20 evening.

The United boss confirmed before United’s clash with Liverpool that the Armenia international was fit, but the summer signing from Borussia Dortmund was not even named on the bench for the draw at Anfield.

Mkhitaryan was also absent for the fixture against the Turkish club and Mourinho admits the midfielder is still not up to speed, Metro said.

"One thing is fit and not injured, another is match fitness, match intensity and ready to play this game," Mourinho told BT Sport.

"I play with Lingard and Martial, I have on the bench Rashford and Memphis Depay, I cannot play with everyone at the same time.

"Micky hasn’t played in a long time, this team is a good team with a good intensity.

"They are luckier than us, they have had two more days [of rest] than us which is important."