Jose Mourinho branded Manchester United's winter sun escape to Dubai a raging success after a festive period to forget.
United's busy schedule over Christmas and New Year saw then ousted from the Carabao Cup by Championship side Bristol City and held to three draws in the Premier League against Leictester, Burnley and Southampton.
Two wins against Everton and in the FA Cup against Derby boosted spirits before the squad jetted to the United Arab Emirates to make the most of a 10-day gap in fixtures.
“It was very good,” said Mourinho after landing back in Manchester.
“The facilities were unbelievable, better than any football club in the world, nice weather, three days of training, really, really good.
“We did things we can't do when have no time to train together, so hopefully we can improve our level.”
Mourinho's news on the condition of Zlatan Ibrahimovic wasn't quite as positive.
Mourinho said the Swede wouldn't be rushed back into action but is expected to return to training at the end of the month - depending on how he feels.
Ibrahimovic was notably off the pace when he made a miraculous return from a serious knee injury way ahead of schedule.
Mourinho explained the veteran striker wasn't satisfied with his condition and is working his way own way back to form before returning to the squad.
“Zlatan is injured, or is not totally happy with his condition," said Mourinho.
"He fought like a tiger, like he likes to say, to be back, which he did.
"He was starting having minutes here and there, he had a start, he had 60 minutes of one game and started another one, and had 45 [minutes], and he was not happy with his feelings.
“He consulted other doctors and other opinions, and we all made the decision to stop treatment. When he's feeling really good, he can come back to work.
"The date for him to be back to training with the team was around the end of January or beginning of February, so let's hope his feelings are better and we have him as soon as possible.”
Mourinho is also sweating on the fitness of Antonio Valencia and Michael Carrick, who while training in Dubai are uncertain to be available to face Stoke at Old Trafford on Monday.
He said Stoke's caretaker manager Eddie Niedzwiecki would provide continuity after the sacking of Mark Hughes, so didn't see any advantage in the club's lack of a permanent boss.
"They have a manager," he said. "I was not inside but from the outside I think he’s a guy with great qualities to do the job for them.
"He was always a loyal member of Mark Hughes’ staff, like Mark Bowen, they were always very united and a strong group, so Ed is just continuity, so I don’t think for the players it’s a different situation.
"Probably they train the same way and Ed thinks the same as Mark Hughes and is about continuity and not about dramatic change, which is not good at this time of the season, so he has conditions to do the job and they are coming to give us a very difficult match as they always do."