United midfielder Mkhitaryan vows to prove critics wrong

Henrikh Mkhitaryan admits he did not expect such an intense battle for a place in the Manchester United side, but is adamant he will work hard to keep his place next season.

The creative midfielder arrived from Borussia Dortmund for £26m last summer, but injury and poor form hampered his first few months at Old Trafford.

But Jose Mourinho slowly began to hand him more appearances and the Armenian started to show why the club splashed the cash with a series of impressive displays – most notably in the Europa League.

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Mkhitaryan scored United’s second goal in the Europa League final, a win which guarantees their place in the Champions League next season.

But Mourinho is expected to go on a summer spending spree and the 28-year-old’s place in the side could be in doubt.

However, he has promised he will be even better next season as United go in search of more silverware.

“I was thinking that I would be here as a starting line-up player but when I arrived I saw that there were 25 players fighting for their place and I understood that it wasn’t going to be easy,” he admitted.

“I had a bad game against Manchester City but that is in the past so I kept working.

“Now I understand why I have got my chance and I will keep it, I will hold it, because it is very important for me to play, to be a part of Manchester United.”