MANCHESTER, UK (Independent) — Henrikh Mkhitaryan is confident he can play a leading role at Manchester United after delivering an encouraging display in the 2-0 pre-season friendly victory against Wigan Athletic.
The Armenian joined the 20-time champions of England from Borussia Dortmund for £26m this summer as Jose Mourinho continues to renovate the squad he inherited from Louis van Gaal.
Mourinho gave Mkhitaryan 45 minutes in the first-half at the DW Stadium on Saturday afternoon to prove himself ahead of the trip to China for the International Champions Cup next week.
Will Keane and Andreas Pereira scored the first goals of the Mourinho era as United strolled to victory against Wigan in a match which also featured a debut for £30m defender Eric Bailly and a return from injury for Luke Shaw.
Mkhitaryan said: “I would say it was a good game. The first half was a little bit difficult because we couldn’t score a goal.
“But we made a good game and thank you to my team-mates. I was trying to feel comfortable. I think day by day it will be better. I am trying, because the first days are always very difficult.
