Henrikh Mkhitaryan has told SFR Sport he feels "liberated" at Manchester United after inspiring his team to a comfortable 3-0 victory at Leicester City on Sunday.
Mkhitaryan scored United's first goal and made the third for Juan Mata as the Red Devils moved to within two points of the top four.
The goal was his fifth strike in 11 competitive outings since being recalled to the side by manager Jose Mourinho.
"I felt free, because we really played well," Mkhitaryan said. "I had help from everywhere. From the flanks, from behind, from up front with Ibra [Zlatan Ibrahimovic]. I felt good, we played football, we knew what we had to do. So I felt very good."
Henrikh Mkhitaryan, buteur avec United : "J'étais libéré en n°10 car on a vraiment très bien joué !" ⚽️���� #PLZone @MUFR_ @MUnitedFrance pic.twitter.com/u1u61EugqJ
- SFR Sport (@SFR_Sport) February 5, 2017
Mkhitaryan, signed from Borussia Dortmund in a big-money summer deal, was left out of the United side for two months earlier in the campaign.
But Mourinho insisted he had "protected" the Armenia international before recalling him in November.
"Sometimes the best way to protect the players is to not play them. Mkhi is one of those players. We protect him," the United boss said at a news conference after the Leicester game.
"Now you see the magic he does on the pitch, but I also see other things I want to see, and Mkhi is playing really well."