Manchester United boss Jose Mourinho has stressed that the Europa League campaign could have a negative impact on his team’s Premier League title chances. However, the Portuguese says he wants to win the competition regardless of if the corresponding Premier League fixtures are affected.

United begin their Europa League campaign against Feyenoord on Thursday night, a game Mourinho will expect nothing more than a win from. With players like Rooney and Mkhitaryan not travelling, it gives others a chance to show the boss what they can do.

But Mourinho says the competition could be difficult to adapt to, with games on a Thursday – often accompanied by large travel, and then a second Premier League fixture on Sunday.

“It is more difficult, yes,” said Mourinho.

“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.”

“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.”

“We play Liverpool on the Monday (October 17), then we play Fenerbahce on the Thursday (October 20) and then Chelsea on the Sunday (October 23).”

Nonetheless, Mourinho says there is no question of his team taking the Europa League lightly.

“This is not a competition that Manchester United wants. It’s not the competition I or the players want. But it is the competition where we are and that is the reality. We have to look to the competition with respect and we want to win the competition.”

“It is difficult to do it, but it is simple to say, and this is how we want to approach the competition tomorrow. It is an important match for us and we must find the motivation that I found myself already. I have to try and pass that motivation to the players, because I know the Europa League is not the big dream of every player.”

“But you are not in the Champions League, so you have to find your motivation in the competition you are in.”

“If you see what happened last season, against Midtjylland, you don’t forget that as a fan. Maybe as a player but not the fans. We have to make sure we are not sleeping. I have brought a very good squad and I will play with a very good team.”

United will certainly look to go all the way in the Europa League and should start as firm favourites for the title.

[Quotes via Sky Sports]