Cold starter Hen eyes golden egg
HENRIKH Mkhitaryan says Manchester United have not given up on clinching a top-four place despite the club’s worst start to a season for 27 years.
But he admits they want to win the Europa League to give them a back-door route into Europe’s top competition next season just in case.
United are nine points adrift of fourth-placed Manchester City after drawing six of their past eight Premier League games – winning one and losing the other.
Mkhitaryan insists that results have not reflected the quality of performances and, with 24 games left, he believes United can make up ground on the teams above them – they face Tottenham, who are one place above them, at Old Trafford on Sunday.
He said: “We haven’t given up in the Premier League yet. So we are not saying we are out of the competition. We are still in the competition, there are a lot of games to play so we are trying to do our best to be in the top four and, of course, in the Europa League we are going to try to go as far as we can.”
Mkhitaryan has returned to the Ukraine where he first emerged as a top player with Shakhtar Donetsk believing he has convinced manager Jose Mourinho he can cope with the demands of the English game.
He was substituted at half-time in his only start in the first three months of the season but has started three of the past four matches and is expected to play against Zorya Luhansk here tonight.
“Yes, we have spoken a lot,” he added. “When I first came here he told me what I had to improve – and I feel I have improved and he gave me the chance to play again.
“I’ve started playing again, I am positive, and I am thinking positive. I’m glad to have more playing time but the future is unpredictable.
“You have to be ready for every situation, so I was ready and I have shown that I am a top-level player. It doesn’t matter if I am going to play or not, I am always ready to help the team.”
And Mkhitaryan, top scorer in the Ukraine Premier League in 2012-13, would love a repeat of his last visit to Odessa, saying: “The last time I was here I scored my first hattrick for Shakhtar, so I can say I’m pleased to be here again. It’s always good to be here in Ukraine. I have happy memories of my time here.”
Mourinho accepts United need to improve a dismal away record in Europe.
They have lost six of their past seven trips in both of Europe’s club competitions, including this season’s defeats by Feyenoord and Fenerbahce, and have won only two out of 13 since Sir Alex Ferguson retired. “I can only speak about myself and my matches,” he said. “We lost to Feyenoord in a game we should have won. The team played well and had the game under control. When the team were pushing to win we lost.
“In Fenerbahce, another difficult place to go, we conceded in the first minute, which gives the home team the best conditions to win. It’s a reality. If you want to qualify you cannot lose three matches away. That’s why we need points here. The home game against Zorya was difficult for us but difficult for Zorya. Tonight more of the same. We know it is a crucial match. If we lose we can be out. And we don’t want to be out.
“Zorya are out but they have a match to play and we believe they are going to try to win the match as well.” MAN UTD (probable): De Gea; FosuMensah, Bailly, Rojo, Blind; Fellaini, Pogba; Rashford, Rooney, Lingard; Ibrahimovic.