Monday 12 December 2016 08:45, UK
Jose Mourinho has dedicated Manchester United's 1-0 win against Tottenham on Sunday to his midfielder Marouane Fellaini.
The Belgium international was the subject of boos from home fans as he warmed up on the touchlines on Sunday after he conceded a late penalty against Everton last weekend to see the game drawn.
Fellaini made another late appearance at Old Trafford on Sunday and his boss attributed the victory to him after getting a hard time from the crowd, who were also subject to praise from Mourinho.
"I want to dedicate this victory to Fellaini because he deserves it," he told Sky Sports. "In the last match, it was him that was involved in the loss of two points, and that's why I want to make it clear he is an important player for me.
"The fans can do what they want and they have been phenomenal with us. I just have to thank them for everything they are giving us, especially in the period where we are not giving them too much so I am really happy with them."
Henrikh Mkhitaryan helped United to pick up their first Premier League victory since September 24 as he fired home just before the half-hour mark with Mourinho pleased to finally secure a much-needed three points.
"These three points are magic especially because it is against a very good team which means even more for us," he added.
"That's why I didn't change the team from Everton for this match because the team are playing well. The players are playing well so normally we have to get bad results but now we go away to Crystal Palace, away to West Brom to difficult opponents again and we know life is not easy.
"We are happy with the evolution of the team and we are pleased with what they are doing. We played very well again against a very good team so it was more difficult and we played very well.
"Everybody was feeling like it could be more of the same and again, we had more opportunities to score the second goal.
"We are always at risk because teams are good with good players, good managers and they try to change the team and the game and they have ammunition on the bench to do that, so it was obviously heart in our hands but the players gave absolutely everything.
"We don't deserve to spend the last 10/15 minutes with our heart in our hands because we did enough to score the second goal and kill the game, but once more, the post, Hugo Lloris and just 1-0 but it is more than 1-0, for us it is magic because we needed these three points."
There was also plenty of praise for Mkhitaryan - who was also stretchered off in the 85th minute after picking up an ankle injury - and his manager believes other players should be following his lead.
"He has crossed the line to be a better player than he was. He was a very talented player, but now he has crossed that line that other players have to cross," the United manager said.
"I want more from some of my attacking players. The two moments of recovering the ball and losing possession are two crucial moments in football today and Mkhitaryan is super at that. Other players need to improve."
