Jose Mourinho signs Europa League mascots' boots in tunnel before Manchester United's win over Zorya 

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He's referred to himself in third person as the 'Special One' in the past and Jose Mourinho did a special thing on Thursday for some lucky youngsters.

Ahead of Manchester United's Europa League clash at Zorya Luhansk on Thursday night, Mourinho made the mascots day by signing their football boots.

The United boss could be seen in the tunnel scrawling his signature on several boots - in surely a moment that the mascots won't forget.

Jose Mourinho made the day for several young mascots by signing their football boots

He could be seen in the tunnel doing the kind gesture at the Chornomorets Stadium

The Manchester United boss also hugged one mascot before their 2-0 win over Zorya

One mascot also managed to share an embrace with Mourinho as he entered the Chornomorets Stadium en route to the dug out.

And come full-time Mourinho too had a smile on his face after seeing his side record a 2-0 victory in Ukraine to book their spot in the last 32.

Goals from Henrikh Mkhitaryan, who made a mockery of his two-month exile from the starting line-up with a superb individual effort, and Zlatan Ibrahimovic secured an easy win that banished memories of their earlier group stage struggles.

Ibrahimovic was in a charitable mood too as he gave his shirt to a young football fan who ran on to the pitch after the match to meet his hero. 

The victory confirmed United in second place in Group A behind Turkish side Fenerbahce who ended Feyenoord's qualification hopes with a 1-0 away win over the Dutch side. 

Zlatan Ibrahimovic gives his shirt to a young fan upon the full-time whistle of United's victory

Henrikh Mkhitaryan opened the scoring in the Europa League after going on a mazy run

The former Borussia Dortmund star wheels away to celebrate his first goal for United

The United players mob Mkhitaryan after the summer signing scored in Thursday night's win

United, who could now view the competition as their best route into the Champions League with their Premier League form continuing to disappoint, needed only a draw to progress but never looked in danger of suffering an upset. 

And speaking after the match, Mourinho was effusive in his praise for Mkhitaryan.

'He has a strong mentality,' Mourinho said. 'He was very determined to fight against his difficult adaptation, and he's doing that in the best way.

'He worked really hard physically, tactically and the talent we know is there. The talent we knew what we were buying.

'He fought to improve tactically, he fought to improve physically, and now he is playing good in the Premier League, good in the Europa League and the EFL Cup, and now evolving a bit more happiness for him, so I'm very pleased.'

Mourinho praised the performance of Mkhitaryan since his return to the Red Devils first team