Jose Mourinho admits Manchester United may now have to go all-out for Europa League glory, with their hopes of a top-four finish looking slim.

United, who are away to FC Rostov on Thursday in the first leg of their last 16 tie, sit sixth in the Premier League — three points adrift of fourth-placed Arsenal.

With a tough run-in that includes trips to the Gunners, Tottenham and Manchester City among their remaining 12 league fixtures, securing a Champions League spot by coming fourth or better domestically is looking increasingly unlikely.

Winning the Europa League can also seal United’s return to the Champions League next season, and boss Mourinho now concedes it may be their best chance of getting back among Europe’s elite.

Mourinho says his men will be able to "smell" May's final if they get past Rostov (
Image:
PA)
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Image:
Eamonn and James Clarke)

The Special One revealed he will sit down with United executive vice-chairman Ed Woodward and discuss the prospect of prioritising the Europa League over the Premier League, should United make it past Rostov into the last eight.

“The Europa League is very difficult, but it’s a target for us,” said Mourinho. “If we beat Rostov and we find ourselves in the quarter-final, then we have to think really seriously about the Europa League.

“In this moment we’re still in the last 16. In the last 16 we’re still far away, but when a team gets into the last eight and you go to the quarter-final draw, you smell the final.

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“In the quarter-final, you smell the final and then in a certain period of the season I have to analyse my team, the players and the conditions of everyone. If I have to make choices, I have to make choices, but choices that I would always share with my owners and with my board, but it’s not for now.

“For now it’s just to play, play against Rostov, play against Chelsea, play against Rostov again and then let’s see how we are in all the competitions, and try to make the right decisions.

“To finish second is better than to finish third, to finish third is better than fourth and fourth is obviously better than not being in the top four and not going to the Champions League.

“The second position is very difficult, but it’s very possible. First is impossible. Second is possible and we have to fight for it.”

United cruised into the last 16 by beating France's St-Etienne home and (above) away (
Image:
Man Utd/Getty)

United have dropped 17 points at home this season, seven draws and a defeat undermining their hopes of securing a top-four spot and an immediate return to the Champions League.

But with United now favourites to win the Europa League, that competition is looking like providing them with their most realistic chance of regaining a seat at European football’s top table.

Their fading hopes of clinching a coveted top-four place have been further dented by the enforced loss of 26-goal leading striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic for three games, two of them league matches, following his FA violent conduct charge.

And with Lyon and Roma facing each other, one potential tournament winner will go out at the last 16 stage, making the prospect of lifting the trophy a more tantalising prospect for United.

Saturday's draw means sixth-placed United have dropped 17 points at home (
Image:
Man Utd/Getty)

United will be without defender Eric Bailly in Rostov. The Ivorian centre-back was sent off in the second-leg win at St Etienne in the previous round, and must serve a one-match suspension.

Wayne Rooney and Luke Shaw were left out of the 20-man travelling squad, but Henrikh Mkhitaryan, who had missed the last two domestic games with a hamstring problem, has made the trip.

WHO ELSE IS LEFT IN THE EUROPA LEAGUE?

The other seven last-16 ties are...

APOEL Nicosia vs Anderlecht

Copenhagen vs Ajax

Celta Vigo vs Krasnodar

Gent vs Genk

Lyon vs Roma

Olympiacos vs Besiktas

Schalke vs Borussia Monchengladbach

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