Manchester United stars touch down after Europa League win but Jose Mourinho still plans to rest key players for Premier League clash with Arsenal

  • Jose Mourinho's side scored crucial away goal through Marcus Rashford  
  • Manchester United now strong favourites to make Europa League final
  • United's stars arrived back home in the early hours of Friday morning
  • Mourinho still plans to rest players for weekend's clash with Arsenal

A weary looking Jose Mourinho and his triumphant Manchester United stars arrived back home in the early hours of Friday morning. 

They touched down at 2.30am after a successful night's work in Spain, overcoming Celta Vigo 1-0 with Marcus Rashford's superb free-kick proving decisive.

The 19-year-old strolled through Manchester airport with his earphones in. Even though his away goal makes United favourites in the tie, Mourinho is still planning to rest players against Arsenal on Sunday.

A weary looking Jose Mourinho touched down with his Manchester United side at 2:30am

A weary looking Jose Mourinho touched down with his Manchester United side at 2:30am

Marcus Rashford scored the crucial away goal in his side's 1-0 win against Celta Vigo

Marcus Rashford scored the crucial away goal in his side's 1-0 win against Celta Vigo

Paul Pogba joined his team-mates in the arrivals area of Manchester Airport 

Paul Pogba joined his team-mates in the arrivals area of Manchester Airport 

MANCHESTER UNITED'S REMAINING FIXTURES 

May 7 vs Arsenal (A)

May 11 vs Celta Vigo (H)

May 14 vs Tottenham (A)

May 17 vs Southampton (A)

May 21 vs Crystal Palace (H)

May 24 - Europa League Final 

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The trip to Arsenal is important in the race for the top-four, but the Portuguese knows the job is not done in a competition that offers Champions League qualification as well as a historic trophy.


Asked if he will rest players at the Emirates on Sunday ahead of the second leg, he said: 'The players that are in accumulation, the players that are with lots of minutes because we played nine matches in April and this one, so 10 matches in four-and-a-half weeks.

'The players that are in accumulation, they are not going to play next weekend.'

Matteo Darmian (right) shared this photo with Eric Bailly (centre) and Antonio Valencia

Matteo Darmian (right) shared this photo with Eric Bailly (centre) and Antonio Valencia

Sergio Romero kept a clean sheet in what Mourinho called a 'difficult' stadium

Sergio Romero kept a clean sheet in what Mourinho called a 'difficult' stadium

Michael Carrick (left) and Wayne Rooney arrive back - neither featured in the match 

Michael Carrick (left) and Wayne Rooney arrive back - neither featured in the match 

David de Gea (left) was another to make the trip without playing but Antonio Valencia started

David de Gea (left) was another to make the trip without playing but Antonio Valencia started

United could easily have had one foot in the Stockholm final, but they could not get the commanding result that their dominant play warranted and find a way through the stubborn defence of the La Liga side.

'Sergio (Alvarez, Celta goalkeeper) had a couple of very important saves and the way we started the game and controlled the game in the first half, I think we deserve a better result,' Mourinho added.

'But the opponent was difficult, the match was difficult, the stadium was difficult, so I cannot be happier with the players and their work.

Jesse Lingard (right) and Rashford came through the airport together on Friday morning 

Jesse Lingard (right) and Rashford came through the airport together on Friday morning 

Ander Herrera (left) was one of the few players to crack a smile as he followed Juan Mata

Ander Herrera (left) was one of the few players to crack a smile as he followed Juan Mata

'1-0 is really a short result. It could have been better, and seeing Celta's trajectory in the Europa League, they definitely deserve respect for the away match.' 

The United boss saw his side move a step closer to the Europa League final through Rashford's brilliance and his manager was swift to praise his efforts.

'He worked really hard and created them problems,' Mourinho said. 'He had a fantastic shot in the first half with that beautiful save.

Marouane Fellaini wore a suit with some trainers as he dragged his suitcase

Marouane Fellaini wore a suit with some trainers as he dragged his suitcase

Manchester United legend Sir Bobby Charlton also made the trip out to Spain with the team

Manchester United legend Sir Bobby Charlton also made the trip out to Spain with the team

'Then the free-kick is work - he works every day, he loves to work.

'Sometimes training session finishes for the group and he keeps doing his individual work with my assistant.

'The free-kick is really well taken and I think the goalkeeper has no chance because the ball is really fast,' Mourinho concluded. 

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