Manchester United boss Jose Mourinho: Why I picked Sergio Romero for Europa League win

De Gea was omitted from the squad with Romero and third-choice goalkeeper Sam Johnstone preferred in his place. 

Romero, who started the club’s 3-1 win over Northampton last week, kept a clean sheet in De Gea’s absence as United registered a first European win of Mourinho’s time in charge. 

And the Portuguese has now revealed that Romero “deserved” to be picked, though hinted De Gea would be back for United’s Premier League clash with Stoke on Sunday. 

"Romero is not an ordinary goalkeeper, he’s a very good goalkeeper, an Argentina international,” Mourinho told BT Sport.

“He played last week in the League Cup, he plays today, he deserves that and to go home next week with these two games in his pocket.

“He knows that David is our first option but Romero – such a good keeper and an amazing guy – deserves to play.”

Former United boss Louis van Gaal signed Romero on a free transfer from Sampdoria last year. 

However, despite starting the club’s first four games of last season, he was then demoted to the bench after De Gea’s move to Real Madrid fell through on transfer deadline day.