Man U to focus on Europa League: Mourinho
ENGLAND, April 3, (RTRS): Manchester United may field weakened teams in the league if a top-four finish seems beyond them in order to boost their chances of winning the Europa League, manager Jose Mourinho has said.
United were held 0-0 by West Bromwich Albion at the weekend, leaving them five points adrift of fourth-placed Manchester City but with a game in hand. They host seventh-placed Everton on Tuesday and travel to bottom club Sunderland on Sunday.
United visit Belgian side Anderlecht in the first leg of their Europa League quarter-final on April 13 before hosting the return a week later.
A top four Premier League place is needed for access to the Champions League but United could grab a place in Europe’s elite club competition next season by winning the Europa League.
“I just want to think that against Everton we are going to do what we tried to do (against West Brom), to try to play with our best team and try to win the match,” Mourinho told British media.
“And after Everton we go to Sunderland with the same perspective ... then the Europa League comes and I don’t know.
“It’s possible that you see me play in the Premier League with a team where I’m going to protect the players that I consider fundamental for the Europa League.”
Manchester United have never won the Europa League or its predecessor, the UEFA Cup.
Meanwhile, Everton manager Ronald Koeman is hoping his team can capitalise on Manchester United’s struggles at home when the two sides meet at Old Trafford in the Premier League on Tuesday.
United, who are fifth in the table, have drawn eight of their 15 home games in the league this season, and Koeman urged his team to try and impose themselves on the contest from the outset.
“We know that they have difficulties at home,” the Dutchman told a news conference on Monday. “We like to play in our way; that means we like to dominate the game.”
United will have striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic available again after a three-game suspension, while Everton will be without midfielders Morgan Schneiderlin, Aaron Lennon and James McCarthy. Right-back Seamus Coleman is out for the season after breaking his leg on international duty.
The slew of injuries led Koeman to start the relatively inexperienced Dominic Calvert-Lewin, Tom Davies, Matthew Pennington and Mason Holgate in Everton’s 3-1 defeat by Liverpool in the Merseyside derby on Saturday.
Despite the chastening nature of the defeat, Koeman said he would keep faith with his youngsters against United.
“We will have the same players available as the weekend. I knew the team to start - a really young team - and that’s different to the one if I had all the players available.
“To compete against a strong team is always difficult. But I try to be realistic about the situation of the team, its progress, and the project of Everton,” said Koeman.
“I am a manager who if a young player is developing and we have injury problems it is an opportunity for the young players. Everybody is always talking about the Academy of Everton. I’m Dutch, I’m not afraid to give a chance to young players.”