Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho missed Marcus Rashford's goal as he was too busy issuing orders to substitute Jesse Lingard

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Jose Mourinho missed the goal that put his Manchester United side two points clear at the top of the Premier League because he was busy issuing instructions to Jesse Lingard at the time.

Mourinho's United mantained their 100 per cent record with a 2-0 win against Leicester City at Old Trafford on Saturday but with the game still goalless after 70 minutes, the manager was getting ready to send Lingard on when Marcus Rashford connected with Henrikh Mkhitaryan's corner to break the deadlock.

A change of plan saw Lingard held back for a further six minutes though he eventually came on and set up Marouane Fellaini for United's second.

Marcus Rashford scored Manchester United's first goal of the afternoon against Leicester

'I didn't see our first goal. I was talking with Lingard because he was going to be the next player to come in,' said Mourinho.

'When I looked up the ball was in the goal and the players were jumping to celebrate, everyone was jumping around me.

'I knew we'd scored because it was the first time I'd really heard the crowd. They were quiet today so I knew it must be a goal because it was the first time the stadium sounded full.'

Manager Jose Mourinho admitted he missed Rashford's goal as he was issuing instructions

Mourinho has been a serial champion with Porto, Chelsea, Inter Milan and Real Madrid and says the team spirit in the current United side was forged during pre-season in America. 'The group is solid. It is friendly. The group has great empathy,' he said.

'We had a very good pre-season, not only great conditions but also being able to work together 24 hours a day in a beautiful atmosphere in Los Angeles. We played against good teams, the best team in Europe (Real Madrid) twice. The pre-season was complete.'

Leicester manager Craig Shakespeare sprung a surprise by withdrawing Jamie Vardy 14 minutes from the end. 'It was tactical,' he confirmed afterwards. 'It was hard for him toiling away.'

Marouane Fellaini added a second goal for United with eight minutes of play remaining