Initial struggles after a summer move from Borussia Dortmund appear to be a thing of the past, with the 27-year-old impressing on his return to a country where he plied his trade for Shakhtar Donetsk.
Mkhitaryan’s fine goal and a late Zlatan Ibrahimovic strike saw already-eliminated Zorya beaten 2-0 as United ended a seven-match wait for an away win in Europe and finished second in Group A.
Here is how Manchester United players fared in a chilly Ukrainian night.
Sergio Romero 7 – Not the nicest evening for Romero: forced to stand around in sub-zero temperatures for 90 minutes whilst being attacked with firecrackers. Still managed to make two important saves.
Ashley Young 8 – Produced a wonderfully dedicated, reliable display at right-back. Made a number of perfectly timed tackles and never looked troubled in possession.
Marcos Rojo 6 – Occasionally struggled with Zorya’s aggression on the break but looked growingly composed on the ball as the game went.
Eric Bailly 7 – A really convincing return to first team action after spending nine games on the sidelines, replete with raw power and superb control.
Daley Blind 6 – One of his easier games. Hardly troubled on the left hand side, making a number of incisive passes forward.
Ander Herrera 7 – In Michael Carrick’s absence, the 27-year-old was asked to occupy a more defensive role and he performed diligently at Man United’s axis, controlling proceedings all game.
Paul Pogba 7 – Recovered incredibly well from a shaky start to produce a composed and powerful performance in midfield.
Juan Mata 6 – A characteristically tidy performance from the Spaniard, linking up well with his teammates all evening. Could have displayed more attacking intent at times in the first half.
Henrikh Mkhitaryan 8 – Provided the game’s one moment of sublime brilliance with a sumptuous goal after 48 minutes. Quite literally ran through the entire Zorya defence. Tidy and enterprising on the ball throughout what was a gritty encounter.
Wayne Rooney 5 – Never looked comfortable on a challenging pitch. Too slow, too immobile, and ultimately detrimental to the side’s speed going forward.
Zlatan Ibrahimovic 7 – Managed to pick up a goal in the closing minutes of the game and although he struggled earlier on, closed the game in superb fashion.
Substitutes
Jesse Lingard N/A
Marouane Fellaini 6 – Managed to not make a complete fool of himself, partially atoning for his horror show last weekend with a generally solid display from the bench.
Timothy Fosu-Mensah N.A