Zlatan Ibrahimovic was a happy man after his goal earned Manchester United a 1-0 Europa League win over Zorya Luhansk.
After losing to Feyenoord in their first Group A clash, United recovered after eventually grinding down their unheralded opponents.
"It was not an easy game, we played well, created chances," the Swede told BT Sport.
"If you don't score in the beginning then the spaces get smaller. After the goal there was more space. It was a decent game and we won. It was good to take the three points.
"If you want to go through you need to win the game. We won but we could do much more. We are working hard. Against Leicester we did a good game, today we did a good game and it is good for confidence."
Manager Jose Mourinho added: "It was difficult, we had chances in the first half but we didn't take them and they were organised with people behind the ball.
"[In] one week [we had] three defeats, one week [we have] three victories. I was not depressed with the defeats or on the moon with the victories. The game on Sunday is now the most important."
Looking ahead to Stoke on Sunday, he added: "We have almost everybody in position to play. It is a very difficult match, Stoke [do not belong] where they are in the table... they have a good manager and players."