United’s match against Feyenoord on Thursday will be Mourinho’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.
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“I think they are under enormous pressure, because everyone wants them to win the league”, he said. I bring a very good squad and I’m going to play with a very good team. And that is the way we want to approach this competition.
“Tomorrow is an important match for us and we must find that motivation that I have found myself already”.
“We know that we are not going to have any kind of support for that, in fact the week when we play Liverpool, Fenerbahce and Chelsea, the gift was to play Liverpool on the Monday, but the Monday before, not the Monday after”.
“It is hard to do it, but it is simple to say, and this is how we want to approach the competition tomorrow”. No matter what their team looks like on Thursday, we will be prepared.
Meanwhile Mourinho admits he does not want to be in the Europa League – and fears it could damage United’s title bid.
Wayne Rooney, the United captain, will be rested for the Group A opener but Mourinho brushed aside the suggestion that his omission is a manifestation of his nonchalance towards the Europa League.
It is clear that the Portuguese, his players and the club would rather not be in the Europa League, but the manager is attempting to change the mindset as United try to win the only major continental trophy missing from their cabinet.
Victory for Guardiola gave Manchester City a three-point lead in the English Premier League. I like my squad, I like my players.
But Guardiola’s management of players has brought him great success so far in his career and Keane has been impressed by the two-time Champions League victor.
“If you see what happened last season, against Midtjylland, you don’t forget that as a fan”, he said.
“We are at a place now where we know the way each other thinks, the runs we make, the positions we will be in”.
“For me, the Premier League is still the toughest league in the world, so it’s great to watch”.
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“For a club of our dimension, to do well is not to be out in the group phase”.
