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This is post-matchday, not post-match. For measured opinion and different retrospection.

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Europa League Round of 32

HT: Manchester United 1 - 0 St Etienne

FT: Manchester United 3 - 0 St Stienne

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Goals:

1-0 Zlatan 15'

2-0 Zlatan 77'

3-0 Zlatan (p) 88'

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Stats

-	Man Utd	St Etienne
Possession	62%	37%
Shots	21	14
On Target	8	0
Blocked	6	6
Corners	5	1
Offsides	3	2
Fouls	15	16
Pass Completion	83%	73%
" In Attacking Third	70%	69%

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Man of the Match

Paul Pogba (I think although I missed it)

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Post-Match Pressers

Jose, Pogba (Post-Match Interview)

Zlatan (Post-Match Interview)

Jose (Post-Match Press Conference)

Jose: In the first half, we played so bad, and we managed to finish it winning 1-0 when we don't deserve. It was down to lack of concentration. I had the feeling immediately in the dressing room - too noisy, too funny, too relaxed. Then my assistants had the feeling in the warm-up, with some of the guys not really focused on getting the right adrenaline in their bodies. So, lack of concentration. And when you don't have it, it's difficult to recover it. So the first half was hard. We were lucky to be winning 1-0. I am not happy with it. I always think we have to play every game with the same attitude.We don't play Champions League, so if that is the case I would prefer to play in the Europa League than be at home watching TV. So I think with the players it is the same."

Zlatan: We created good chances. It was important to get a good win at home and we bring it with us in the second leg. It was a good game but I think we can do better. We are winning but in a short time everything can change. It's important to keep getting the wins we need. Everything can change but we're happy at the moment. This is the decisive moment for the season. We are still in all four competitions. The fifth we already won [the Community Shield]."

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Links

Match Thread / Post-Match Thread

BBC Report

Highlights/Full Match Download or Watch Online

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Next Match: Blackburn (A) KO 16:15 Sunday 19th February - FA Cup Fifth Round (Last 16)

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Following 5 Matches: St.Etienne (A) *, Southampton (N) **, Bournemouth (H), Southampton (A), Middlesbrough (A)

* Europa League
** EFL Cup

Just an early word of warning games, the return leg against St Etienne unusually kicks off on the Wednesday at 17:00 GMT so don't miss that!

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Some Thoughts

• I don't think we played that well but somehow had a 3-0 win to show for it (which should be enough to see us through, barring an awful second leg). St Etienne were impressive going forwards and (despite not getting one on target), had 11 shots in the first half, the most since Bilbao in 2013. I genuinely think they were a bit unlucky last night.

• Saying that though, was great to see us score some shit goals. We've had so many matches recently where nothing would go in that I actually enjoyed seeing what was one of the worst hat-tricks ever. Hopefully a sign that the dam is bursting and we're going to continue to see mis-hit shots and deflections.

• Martial was good again I thought (with his run starting from within his own half being of particular highlight) but Pogba ran the game for me. He seems to have matured as a midfielder this season and has started to put in good defensive work as well as using his incredible passing range to good effect. Hopefully he keeps these recent performances because he's such a delight to watch when he's in that mood (although he needs to drop his love affair with hitting the woodwork).

• Stat attack: First time since 2010 that we've won 3 European matches consecutively without conceding a goal. Mourinho has kept 5 clean consecutive clean sheets for the first time since 2011.