While Manchester United are struggling to finish in the top four of the Premier League, manager Jose Mourinho is hopeful of making it to the Europa League final in Sweden next month, calling it a “perfect end” to a difficult season.
United returned from Belgium with a 1-1 draw in last week’s first leg against Anderlecht, and will be looking to seal the tie in the return leg at Old Trafford.
“It will be the perfect end to the season,” Mourinho said ahead of the second leg on Thursday. “A difficult season, lots of matches, trying to build a team, trying to recover a certain mentality, trying to finish the season playing a European final,” said the manager who took over at United last May. It will be the perfect finale for Manchester United.”
Mourinho’s United have struggled with consistency in the league and are currently fifth in the standings with 60 points, four behind Manchester City, but with a game in hand. Only the top four are assured of a Champions League spot, Europe’s elite competition that United have missed in the last two seasons. Winning the Europa League would not only mean getting a trophy they have never clinched before, but also direct entry into next season’s Champions League, a fact that many United followers will be banking on.
Mourinho also said that reaching the final, which will be played in star striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic’s native Sweden, will be fantastic for the 35-year-old who is United’s leading scorer this season. “For Zlatan it would be fantastic to play the final in Stockholm, in his country. It would be beautiful,” Mourinho said.
United will draw hope from the fact that they are unbeaten in 16 European home games and have won all three of their previous matches against Anderlecht at Old Trafford, including a club-record 10-0 rout in September 1956.
Limited-time offer: Big stories, small price. Keep independent media alive. Become a Scroll member today!
Our journalism is for everyone. But you can get special privileges by buying an annual Scroll Membership. Sign up today!