Mourinho demands Europa reaction after derby defeat
Fresh from giving his players a rollicking Jose Mourinho's focus turns from Manchester United's derby defeat to European action with a tricky Europa League opener at in-form Feyenoord tonight.
It will be the Portuguese manager's first game in the second-tier European competition since winning its predecessor the UEFA Cup with Porto in 2003 and he says he is taking it seriously.
Mourinho's unbeaten start as United manager came to a stuttering stop Saturday as longtime nemesis Pep Guardiola's Manchester City left Old Trafford with a 2-1 victory.
United can expect a tough Group A opener at Feyenoord, who are top of the Dutch league having won all five of their matches this season and have pedigree in the competition.
United's Spanish attacking midfielder Juan Mata warned that after the disappointment of derby day there was "no time for mourning".
"On Thursday we're going to play the first game in the Europa League, away against Feyenoord, a classic in European football," Mata said on his weekly blog.
"It's going to be a very demanding debut in this competition," he added of the road to the final in Stockholm next May.
Mourinho says that young attacking sensation Marcus Rashford will play after his impressive second-half cameo along with midfielder Ander Herrera on Saturday.