Jose Mourinho explains why he preferred Manchester United's second half display against Stoke over their first

United maintained their 100 per cent start to 2018 as they responded to Manchester City's first Premier League loss of the season to cut the leaders' advantage to 12 points

Jose Mourinho was happier with his side's second half display than their first (Getty)

Manchester United may have eased to a 3-0 victory over Stoke at Old Trafford on Monday night, but only their second-half performance left Jose Mourinho truly satisfied.

United maintained their 100 per cent start to 2018 as they responded to Manchester City's first Premier League loss of the season to cut the leaders' advantage to 12 points.

The Potters, led by interim boss Eddie Niedzwiecki with Paul Lambert watching on from the stands ahead of taking over on Tuesday, only really threatened after Antonio Valencia had opened the scoring in the ninth minute, and Anthony Martial's 10th goal of the season ensured the hosts were 2-0 up by half-time.

Yet it was the second-half showing, when Romelu Lukaku added a third, that really pleased Mourinho as United earned their third straight victory of the calendar year.

"I didn't like the first half, I only like two amazing goals," Mourinho said. "But I think we were confident and organised but a bit slow. I think Ed tried to bring a positive team with three football players in midfield to try to play plus (Xherdan) Shaqiri was also coming there.

"They had the ball and it was difficult for us to press them. They had more chances than I would have liked them to have had in the first half.

"We scored two amazing goals and for me that was the good thing of the first half.

"Second half, totally different. We missed lots of chances because we accelerate the game. We recover the ball faster, we didn't let them play. (Phil) Jones and (Chris) Smalling brought the line up so that it was impossible for Peter Crouch to put a foot in the box.

"In the second half, we played confidently and fast and aggressive and I liked the second half."