Feyenoord Rotterdam vs Manchester United - United determined to make the best

Manchester United do not want to be in the Europa League but Jose Mourinho intends to make the best out of the situation.

A three-year malaise set in after Sir Alex Ferguson brought his trophy-laden career to an end, with David Moyes and Louis van Gaal paying with their jobs after failing to reach the Champions League.

It means the three-time continental champions will this season ply their trade in the Europa League, getting their first ever group stage campaign under way on Thursday with a tough-looking trip to Eredivisie leaders Feyenoord.

Mourinho has played 125 Champions League and Super Cup fixtures since his last dalliance with the competition, when he led Porto to UEFA Cup glory against Celtic in 2003.

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.

"Look, this is not a competition that Man United wants," Mourinho said on the eve of the match in Holland.

"It is not the competition I want, it is not the competition the player want, but it is a competition where we are and that's the reality.

"We have to look to the competition with respect. I think we want to do well in the competition and for a club of our dimension to do well is not to be out of the competition in the group phase.

"I know the group phase is not easy. I know that the group phase could be perfectly a Champions League group phase with clubs that fight for the title like Fenerbahce, Feyenoord and Man United, but this is the competition where we are.

"I think you can see by our selection of players - apart from Luke Shaw, Antonio Valencia and Wayne Rooney - that we come to come to respect the opponent and we come to win the game. We want to win the competition.

"It is difficult to do it but it is simple to feel it and say it, and this is the way we want to approach the competition.

"Tomorrow is an important match for us and we must find that motivation that I have found myself already.

"I have to try to pass that motivation to the players because I know that the Europa League is not the big dream of every big player.

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

Liverpool fans' favourite Dirk Kuyt believes Manchester United are under "enormous pressure" this season - and plans to increase it by inspiring Feyenoord to victory.

"I played there (Liverpool) for six years and for me it was one of the biggest games of the season so now to play again against Manchester United is great," Kuyt said.

"It's a great chance, not only for me but for Feyenoord, for the team, we have a young team.

"It's good experience for them and a great game to play, so we're really looking forward to it.

"I have great memories of playing against United. We won a couple of games, I scored a hat-trick at Anfield, but I also remember a couple of games at Old Trafford, playing with Fernando Torres and Steven Gerrard.

"I can remember a late goal of mine in the FA Cup, so great memories and hopefully tomorrow will be another great day to remember."

Feyenoord approach the match in fine fettle, having won all five Eredivisie matches to date.

United's 100 per cent start to their campaign came to a halt on Saturday as Pep Guardiola struck the first blow in the title race as Manchester City triumphed 2-1.

Kuyt believes they are contenders for the Premier League this crown but underlined how that loss has increased the load.

"I think they are under enormous pressure, because everyone wants them to win the league," he said.

"Everyone can see what it did to the team when they lost to City at the weekend, already there is more pressure on the team, although the teams in the Premier League have difficulties in challenging the teams like Barcelona, Real Madrid and Bayern Munich.

"For me, the Premier League is still the toughest league in the world, so it's great to watch."