Man United's Jose Mourinho: 'Henrikh Mkhitaryan squad snub not purely tactical'

Manchester United head coach Jose Mourinho has hinted that Henrikh Mkhitaryan's axe from the matchday squad to face Stoke City is transfer related.

  "I would lie if I said it was a pure tactical decision," the Daily Star quotes the United manager as saying. "It was just a choice of the players that we know, in this moment, they have 100% their heads in Manchester United. "No doubts about the future. I don't think it's easy for a player to play when there are doubts about his future. It's added pressure that a player doesn't need, so I think it's the best for him and for us, while the doubt is in the air, to protect him."