Jose laments ‘poisoned gift’ as fixture list set to test Utd

MANCHESTER United have been given a “poisoned gift” of a fixture schedule when the Europa League resumes, yet Jose Mourinho will not allow any let-up when Fenerbahce arrive in between clashes with Liverpool and Chelsea.

A fortnight on from losing their Group A opener at Feyenoord, the United manager highlighted the importance of securing victory against relatively unknown Zorya Luhansk at Old Trafford.

The Ukrainians made life tough but Zlatan Ibrahimovic’s close-range header secured a 1-0 win.

The Turkish giants arrive three days after United travel to rivals Liverpool for a fascinating Monday night Premier League clash, with the Europa League clash bookended by Mourinho’s first return to Chelsea on the Sunday.

“Well, we could play Liverpool on the Saturday, we could play Liverpool on the Sunday,” the United manager said. “We play Liverpool on the Monday.

“So maybe we don’t have the best conditions, especially because we play against two top Premier League games that don’t play in European competitions.

“We had this kind of poisoned gift of playing on the Monday. That creates a very difficult situation but we want to try and qualify for the next round. We want to try.”

Asked if he tried to get the Liverpool games moved back from Monday or whether that was impossible, he said: “I think it is impossible.

“The poisoned gift is already there, so what can you do? We just have to play Monday, and then Thursday, and then Stamford Bridge on the Sunday.

“But before that we have Stoke (this Sunday), so let us concentrate on Stoke because it is another poisoned gift because Stoke is not what the table says.

“The manager is very good, the players are good, the team is good, so when I look to the table, that’s not Stoke’s position.”

Mourinho accepts they did not play “amazingly well” against Zorya but got the job done, saying he was impressed with Wayne Rooney’s impact after coming off the bench for a second successive match.

“He was laughing and saying he made a great assist,” the United boss said, regarding his strike into the ground which led to Ibrahimovic’s winner.

“But, really, he gave me what the team needs at that time, which is a presence, a second presence in the box.”