Manager Jose Mourinho eyeing historic Europa League triumph with Manchester United

Posted Thursday, May 04, 2017 by Express.co.uk

Manager Jose Mourinho eyeing historic Europa League triumph with Manchester United
Jose Mourinho has expressed the importance of the Europa League campaign

JOSE MOURINHO didn't want to be in the Europa League back in September.

Now eight months, seven countries, thousands of air miles and 12 games later it has become all important for him and Manchester United - for so many reasons.

And yesterday as United prepared to face Celta Vigo in the semi-final first leg here he was talking up Europe's second tier competition like never before.

On a personal level, Jose Mourinho has never failed to guide any of the clubs he has managed into the Champions League over the course of a full season.

And it would be as big a blow to his own pride and reputation as it would be to United's if they fail to do it in his first season at Old Trafford.

With Liverpool's win at Watford on Monday taking United's top four hopes out of their hands, Mourinho has effectively given up on qualifying for the Champions League by the front door and is piling all his chips on going through the back door by winning the Europa League.

But he tried to take the spotlight away from himself by suggesting a loftier ambition: United can "close the circle" in Stockholm on May 24 by completing the set of all four European trophies and the Inter-Continental Cup and the club World Cup.

Only a select band of Bayern Munich, Juventus, Ajax and Chelsea have won all four Euro trophies – /the European Cup/Champions League, the old Cup Winners' Cup, the UEFA Cup/Europa League and the Super Cup.

And only Bayern, Ajax and Juventus can add the old Inter-Continental Cup and Club World Cup to their honours board.

Given the backdrop of a marathon season and recent injury problems, Mourinho thinks it would be some achievement.

"It's the only competition that Manchester United has never won and it would be great to close that circle and say we are a club that won every single competition in the football world.

"I think it would be a good achievement given the problems we've had and, of course, it would allow us to be back in the Champions League next season.

United will be boosted by the quick return of Eric Bailly who looked as if he might be out for the season when he limped off against Swansea on Sunday.

The defensive crisis will also be eased by the return – probably on the bench – of two other centre backs Chris Smalling and Phil Jones.

In front of the defence, United are almost back to full strength, apart from the long-term absentee Zlatan Ibrhaimovic because Paul OPogba, Juan Mata and Maroune Fellaini – banned domestically - are all available.

But first United have to overcome a Celta Vigo side, who are only 11th in La Liga and are regarded as the weakest of the four semi-fainlists.

Mourinho though is not fooled by a League position that has been effected by Celta being able to field weakened teams in League games in order to concentrate on reaching their first very European final and bidding to continue Spain's remarkable recent record in Europe's second tier competition.

"The fact that Celta are in the semi-finals tells you everything," he added. "Almost every team in the knock-out phases were of the same level.

"They have a very good balance and because of their comfortable situation in La Liga, they managed to think just about the Europa League, to rest players, to enable them to be at the maximum of their condition so it's a difficult match for us.

"I don't think they're going to come just to enjoy the match - if that was the case they wouldn't have played with the second team against Bilbao and lost 3-0. They have lost two matches in La Liga playing with their second teams so it's very clear they have come to win.

"I think it's the same for both of us. When somebody arrives in the semi-final they want to be in the final. The Europa League is a long competition. To be in the final, the team has to play the group stages, four knockout phases, has to travel a lot so when you arrive in semi-final you want to be in the final. Celta want that so do we.

"But it's not easy. These are good teams. It could have been Sevilla or Villarreal or other teams who played in the Champions League. They're no such thing as an easy match."

Mourinho first came to prominence with his work at Porto, just over the Portugeuse border from here.

He was looking forward to enjoying some traditional Galician food last night but his appetitie will only be satisfied by a result that he hopes will ease the pressure in a week's time at Old Trafford where the have experience so many problems this season.

"I will enjoy the dinner, I'm sure we're going to have great food - but tomorrow it's work, work, work. We've struggled in the Premier League , it's been complicated, but we are here to win."

Celta have never won a major trophy but have set their sights on continuing La Liga's tradition for winning Europe's second tier club competition.

Celta boss Eduardo Berizzo said: "How do we beat United? By being faithful to who we are, I think this team has an identity and they believe in this identity, having possession, pressurising and recovering the ball quickly to attack again.

"I respect Jose Mourinho greatly. Fortunately it's not the coaches who play the matches, It's the players, we give them strength and hope for the future,

"More than fear United, they are to be respected, we have payed against great teams and United is definitely one of them, historically very clearly. But we will win with conviction, identity and with heart, at least we hope to."