Fenerbahce head coach José Mourinho has identified Manchester United as one of the top contenders for the Europa League ahead of their match on Thursday. In a pre-match press conference on Wednesday, Mourinho expressed his belief that United and Tottenham Hotspur are the two favorites to claim the title.
Mourinho, who previously led Manchester United to victory in the Europa League in 2017 during his tenure at the club, commented, “If I have to say now which are the two biggest candidates to win the Europa League, I think it’s easy: Manchester United and Tottenham.”
While Fenerbahce currently sits fourth in the Turkish league with four points from their opening two Europa League matches, United has struggled in the competition, managing only two draws so far. Despite their current position in 12th place in the Premier League, Mourinho believes United’s potential far exceeds their results. “I don’t see any reason for Manchester United to be afraid of Fenerbahce, but they know it’s not an easy game for them,” he noted. He added that approaching the match with overconfidence would be a mistake.
Mourinho, who joined Fenerbahce in June after leaving AS Roma in January, aims to end a decade-long wait for the Turkish championship. Meanwhile, Manchester United will be without their captain, Bruno Fernandes, who is serving a one-match suspension following a red card in a previous Europa League fixture against Porto—another club Mourinho guided to UEFA Cup glory in 2003.
As the anticipation builds for this clash, both teams are eager to make their mark in the tournament, with Mourinho confident in United’s capabilities despite their recent struggles.
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