THE MATHS PREACHER
Mourinho will target Europa route into Champions League..if getting into the top four does not add up
JOSE MOURINHO is ready to wave the white flag in Manchester United’s pursuit of a top-four place and focus entirely on the Europa League.
This latest setback, an eighth Premier League draw at home this season, further undermined United’s hopes of a top-four finish and an immediate return to the Champions League.
United face Everton tomorrow, followed by Sunderland on Sunday, with Mourinho admitting it may be Europa League or bust if they fail to take maximum points from those two games.
“Against Everton we’re going to try to play with our best team and try to win. After that we go to Sunderland with the same perspective, then the Europa League comes, and then I don’t know.
“Then, it’s possible that you will see me play in the Premier League with a team where I’m going to protect the players I consider fundamental for the Europa League. “But only – only – if the results in the next matches put us in a situation where, mathematically, it becomes almost impossible to make the top four.
“Until it’s impossible mathematically, we’ll keep trying, because this week is a week without the Europa League. “This week is easy from the focus point of view. We have to play two matches, and we have to go for them thinking about the Premier League, nothing else.
“Then we have Anderlecht and the quarter-final, first leg of the Europa League, which is very important for us.”
With a run-in that includes trips to top-four rivals Manchester City, Arsenal and Tottenham, it is easy to see why Mourinho is ready to pin all of his and United’s hopes on the Europa League. This was like Groundhog Day for United, who have dropped a staggering 19 points at home this season, eight draws and one defeat leaving Mourinho’s side with their noses pressed up against the window of the top-four battle.
Missing key men in the shape of top scorer Zlatan Ibrahimovic, world record signing Paul Pogba and midfield dynamo Ander Herrera, United should nonetheless have had enough quality to break down an obdurate West Brom side.
But the visitors showed impressive defensive resolve to hold out for a point in the face of relentless pressure from United, who will welcome back Ibrahimovic, Herrera and Pogba tomorrow.
The trio were part of a five-aside post-match training session on the pitch at Old Trafford that also included skipper Wayne Rooney, who returned from injury with an ultimately ineffectual 14-minute cameo.
Mourinho downplayed the significance of the return of some of his key men, in particular 26-goal Ibrahimovic.
“I don’t know,” said Mourinho. “We’ve had matches here with Zlatan we drew. He missed a penalty in a game to win it 2-1 against Bournemouth.
“He missed chances too, so I can’t say if Zlatan and Juan Mata had played today, we would have won.”
West Brom boss Tony Pulis is convinced Mourinho will eventually get it right at United.
“I wouldn’t bet against this club winning the league next year,” said Pulis. ”It might not be this year, but it will be next.
“He’s a winner. He’s relentless and he’ll do it. He’ll go and get three or four top, top players again and the group will be much stronger next season.
“That’s the way he is. I don’t think he’ll hang around unless he thinks he can win it.”