JOSE Mourinho conceded that Blackburn Rovers ‘probably deserved’ a replay as his Manchester United side moved in to the last eight of the FA Cup.

Zlatan Ibrahimovic scored 16 minutes from time as United came from behind to edge past Rovers in an excellent cup tie at Ewood Park.

Danny Graham had given Rovers the lead, only for Marcus Rashford to equalise midway through the first-half.

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However, Rovers looked to have done enough to send the game to a replay at Old Trafford on Wednesday week, until Ibrahimovic sprung the offside trap and slotted beyond Jason Steele to put his side in the quarter-finals.

And Mourinho said: “The attitude of every player was really good and with a different attitude we would lose, because I think Blackburn were a good team.

“They were better than Blackburn of the Championship. They had an amazing attitude and amazing belief. They gave us a really hard match and, I repeat, with a different attitude then I think we would have lost the match. So I am really happy with my players.

“Blackburn probably deserved to go to Old Trafford but this way is better for them as now they can focus on a very difficult Championship.”

The turning point in the game came just after the hour mark when Mourinho sent on Paul Pogba and Ibrahimovic.

The two combined to devastating effect as the Frenchman played in the Swedish striker to score the decisive goal.

And Mourinho added: “When I have really important players on the bench then I can try to make an impact. Sometimes it doesn’t work, but it depends also on their mentality.

“Of course I spoke to Paul and Zlatan at half-time. In the moment of need they were more than ready to come with the right attitude for the team. So I am happy with the victory.”

A return to Stamford Bridge and former club Chelsea in the quarter-finals awaits Mourinho, but he wasn’t keen to talk about that when pressed.

"I have no reaction because I have to play Saint-Etienne and the (EFL Cup) final (against Southampton) and hopefully another opponent in the Europa League.

“I have to fight for a top-four position in the Premier League so I have so many things to think about.

“Probably Chelsea can only think about that (the FA Cup) because I think they are champions and they have nothing else to play for so the FA Cup is something important for them.

“The match is in one month's time and I don't want to speak about it now.”