Ex-Liverpool forward Dirk Kuyt wants to add another great Manchester United moment when he captains Feyenoord in the Europa League on Thursday, saying their opposition are “under pressure”.
Advertisement
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.
Jose Mourinho will consider selling Wayne Rooney next summer to make way for Gareth Bale at Manchester United, according to reports.
He said: “When you lose the derby, I can not lie, it was a tough day, a very tough weekend for us and for our fans because it is a game your life depends on for the next week”. It’s not the big dream of every big player, but we are not in the Champions League. But next time we face a team like Man City, who like to play from their keeper, we will do it better.
“I think United are under enormous pressure because everyone wants them to win the Premier League”.
“It [the Europa League] is not a competition that Man United wants”, Mourinho said. He also said “We want to win the competition”. They were eliminated at the last 16 in 2011-12 and 2015-16 after entering due to finishing third in their Champions League group. No matter what their team looks like on Thursday, we will be prepared.
“I will keep doing the same the manager wants me to play”.
‘We are also going to play a very important game on Sunday.
‘My message to the players is that I bring a very good squad, ‘ said Mourinho. But my squad is good.
Lingard and Mkhitaryan who were both taken off at halftime during the defeat in the Manchester derby at the weekend, were left at home to continue working on fitness, while Shaw needs treatment and Valencia is due for some rest. I like my squad, I like my players.
Advertisement
However, that’s not going to be easy as Feyenoord come in to the game in excellent form having won all five of their league matches so far this season and are averaging three goals a game so a weakened United side will be in for a tough game. Especially because you have also the chance to play on the Monday, but we did not get that privilege, so when we play Thursday, we were never given a Monday spot, to have one more day.
