Manchester United will pick a strong side for their FA Cup clash at Chelsea despite the air miles they will rack up travelling back from Russia, insists boss Jose Mourinho.
The Red Devils are due to land in the UK in the early hours of Friday morning after drawing 1-1 with FC Rostov in the first leg of their last-16 Europa League tie on Thursday evening.
They will have just a couple of days to prepare for the trip to Stamford Bridge on Monday evening for the quarter-final as they look to add to their trophy haul following victory in the EFL Cup final against Southampton.
And the second leg against Rostov will take place just three days after the Chelsea fixture.
“We have to keep the two doors open,” Mourinho said. “We need to keep going in the Premier League and, if you are in the quarter final, we would feel the door is open to us in the Europa League. We have to try by every means.
“We have a trophy in our pocket and that is a good feeling for everybody.
"I know we have to beat Rostov at Old Trafford to reach the quarter-finals but we cannot go with a Nicky Butt team because last season Manchester United was the winner of the competition.”