Jose Mourinho considers extending Old Trafford stay

Jose Mourinho has suggested he could be willing to extend his own contract beyond its existing three years, stressing the need for patience as he seeks to transform United back into the Premier League's dominant force.

Despite appearing plagued with frustration both on and off the field for the first few months of his Old Trafford reign, Mourinho believes he can learn from Sir Alex Ferguson, who had to wait seven years for his first league title after being appointed in 1986.

Mourinho said: "Obviously people want big results, but I think they can look back and try to make a point of comparison, that the best manager in the history of the Premier League needed a few years to reach such a successful period - which means if the best needed that time the others also need that time.

"I am in the beginning of my contract and the beginning of the process, so let's go step by step.

"If you ask me, would I like to be successful in these three years and to stay here for more time than the three years, then yes I would, because I'm in the club and the league I want to be in, so yes I'd love it.

"But I also have to deserve it, so let's see the evolution of my results. If one day the club thinks I deserve it I'll be very happy, but I'm just at the beginning."

United go into Thursday night's game with qualification for the Europa League knockout stages hanging in the balance as they currently sit third in the group behind joint leaders Feyenoord and Fenerbahce.

Mourinho is set to give Henrikh Mkhitaryan a rare chance to impress, while Luke Shaw is also ready to return for the first time since Mourinho questioned the full-back's apparent unwillingness to play through the pain barrier at Swansea a fortnight ago.

Mourinho added: "It's simple - we need four points to qualify and it doesn't matter what happens in the matches where we are not involved.

"There is no space for a defeat tomorrow, because [it is] a game where we have only two options and the third option, defeat, [means] we are out. We are going to approach the game knowing it is a knockout game for us and we cannot lose."

Feyenoord boss Giovanni van Bronckhorst expects a far different United team to the one they beat in September, with Tonny Vilhena claiming the only goal in Rotterdam.

"In De Kuip we have seen that it is possible to get a good result against Manchester United," Van Bronckhorst said at his pre-match press conference.

"Now their approach will be different to then, because United must now win.

"That makes this a very different game than in Rotterdam."

Feyenoord have been hit by injuries and suspensions with Karim El Ahmadi, Terence Kongolo and Eric Botteghin all missing at Old Trafford.

"In particular, at centre-back we miss many players, three of the five guys who can play there are not available," said Van Bronckhorst, the former Arsenal and Rangers midfielder.

"I've played a few times at Old Trafford and know that the atmosphere here is fantastic.

"These are special matches. It's only the third time that Feyenoord and United play each other in the last 20 years.

"For my players this game is a way to compete with the very top players."