'Alexis Sanchez knows his name' - Axel Tuanzebe impresses Jose Mourinho

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Tom Doyle7 May 2017

Jose Mourinho praised Axel Tuanzebe for an mature performance against Alexis Sanchez despite Manchester United's 2-0 defeat at Arsenal.

Tuanzebe, 19, was a surprise starter at right-back for United, with Mourinho handing the academy graduate his Premier League debut in Sunday's clash at Emirates Stadium.

The defender - who usually plays at centre-back - acquitted himself well on the flank against Arsenal talisman Sanchez, but ended up on the losing side as goals from Granit Xhaka and Danny Welbeck ended United's 25-match unbeaten run in the league.

Mourinho made wholesale changes to his starting line-up with one eye on a crucial Europa League semi-final second leg against Celta Vigo on Thursday, but praised his side despite the disappointing defeat - one which ended his own personal 12-game unbeaten streak against Arsene Wenger.

Getty Images

The United boss told the club's official website: "I think [Phil] Jones, [Chris] Smalling, [Juan] Mata, they were amazing in the way they performed. They showed amazing effort and attitude after seven weeks without playing football due to important injuries.

"The kid [Tuanzebe] was the same. I think he did an amazing job and I think Alexis knows his name because the kid played very well."

Tuanzebe admitted that the scale of the occasion was tough to get to grips with, saying: "At first, you see all the fans and you think 'flipping heck' but when the game starts, you lose yourself in it and concentrate on doing your job.

"The manager gave me one task: to stay with him [Alexis], and I seemed to do that quite well but again, we didn’t win so it doesn’t count as much.

"But it’s good to have the opportunity to play – the manager gives you a job and you have to show he can trust you for future games... we didn’t get the win, which is a disappointment, but I’m chuffed personally."

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