Jose Mourinho: 'Ajax should not even be in the Europa League' 

Jose Mourinho
Jose Mourinho has questioned Ajax's right to be in the Europa League in the build-up to Wednesday's final Credit: Ryan Browne/BPI/REX/Shutterstock

Jose Mourinho has stoked the fires in the build-up to Manchester United’s Europa League final against Ajax on Wednesday by claiming the Dutch club should not be in the competition.

Ajax dropped into the Europa League after losing their two-legged Champions League play-off against FC Rostov 5-2 on aggregate in August.

But Mourinho believes teams should be allowed to play in only one European competition per season and is against Champions League failures being parachuted into the Europa League at the group stage or Round of 32.

“They are a Champions League team, they come from the Champions League,” the United manager said. “I always disagree with it. I don’t think a team should play two European competitions in a season.

“If you don’t qualify [for the Champions League] I think they should go home. We finish fifth [in the Premier League] last year. We went into the Europa League. We started the Europa League from beginning of season and we have to fight to get where we are.”

Mourinho reiterated his complaints about United’s schedule but insisted fatigue would not be an issue in the final, despite it being the club’s 64th game of a marathon campaign.

“No chance,” Mourinho said when asked if his constant complaints about tiredness could play on the minds of the players. “On Tuesday when we put foot in that plane we think just about one thing.”

United’s injured players, including Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Marcos Rojo, will all be present in Stockholm. “Everybody goes,” Mourinho said.

“We have a few on crutches but everybody goes. It’s a fantastic group of players, fantastic spirit, a difficult run, lots of matches, we spent more time travelling than plying, with hotels than at home.

"Sixty something matches means 140 days in hotels so half of the season we spent together and that is only possible if the spirit is fantastic. Crutches, for Rojo, for Zlatan, young players, but we all go together.”

Zlatan Ibrahimovic
Mourinho confirmed Zlatan Ibrahimovic will travel with the team to watch the Europa League final in Stockholm on Wednesday Credit: Matt West/BPI/REX/Shutterstock

Mourinho said his biggest doubt for the final centred over the fitness of Marouane Fellaini.

The Belgium midfielder was substituted because of a hamstring injury during the goalless draw at Southampton on Wednesday and Mourinho said he would be scanned on Friday in order to determine the full extent of the problem.

Mourinho also said Chris Smalling was suffering from a minor injury that would rule him out of Sunday’s final Premier League game at home against Crystal Palace but was hopeful the England centre-half would be fit for Stockholm. Timothy Fosu-Mensah will play against Palace after recovering sooner than expected from a shoulder injury and could be a surprise inclusion against Ajax if he emerges unscathed on Sunday.

“Marouane is the question mark, we await today for the scans,” Mourinho said. “We decided not to do them yesterday. Again his feelings are not bad but let’s wait.

Maroaune Fellaini
Maroaune Fellaini, who hurt his hamstring at St Mary's, is the only fresh doubt for the Europa League final Credit: Clive Rose/Getty Images

“Smalling has a problem but a small problem that I think will be no problem at all for next week. A problem for the weekend but not the final.

“Timothy Fosu-Mensah, he plays Sunday and if the reaction is good and he manages to play the game without problems, he’s a new option for us for the final.”

Paul Pogba has missed United’s past three matches following the death of his father and was in France this week to attend the funeral. But Mourinho said the France midfielder would start against Palace because he needs the game time after an extended absence.

“Paul is fine, a strong guy, strong mentality, he is learning how to live after his father passed away but he’s strong and knows he needs to play on Sunday because he doesn’t play and train for a long time,” Mourinho said. “So he needs these minutes on the pitch so he plays against Palace.”

Paul Pogba
Paul Pogba will return on Sunday after some time off following the death of his father Credit: David Ramos/Getty Images

Mourinho will call up a raft of young players for the Palace game as he bids to keeps his senior players fit for Ajax. Joel Pereira will start in goal while the likes of Scott McTominay, Matty Willock, Josh Harrop, Demetri Mitchell, Zachary Dearnley and the highly-regarded Angel Gomes are all in contention to play. At 16, Gomes became the youngest player in the club’s history to receive the Jimmy Murphy Youth Team Player of the Year at Thursday's awards dinner.

Mourinho said he would prefer not to play so many youngsters at once, accepting that it was a risk to do so, but claimed he had little choice given the importance of the final.

 “You will have two keepers, Joel Pereira and Kieran O’Hara, we will have Mitchell, McTominay, Josh Harrop, Willock, Angel Gomes, Zachery, I think that’s it plus Tim Fosu-Mensah and Axel Tuanzebe, so lots of them," he said.

Asked if they were all ready to play together as he planned, Mourinho said: “All together. No. One in the middle of a good structure, a dynamic structure, an experienced structure, I think yes, lots of them together I think no."

Angel Gomes
United's young player of the year, Angel Gomes, left, is in line for a first team debut at the age of 16 on Sunday Credit: John Peters/Man Utd via Getty Images

 

“The only positive [on Sunday] is to save my players, to give them better conditions for Wednesday. It’s the only positive thing. Individually for the kids I think it will be a great experience. Old Trafford, Premier League, Crystal Palace, last match of the season, for the kids it will be a big occasion, a good experience for them. But I think the best debut for a young player is in the middle of an experienced structure where he can be supported. To play so many kids at same time honestly I don’t think it’s good because there’s a big difference of experence, strength, quality between them and Crystal Palace.

“They really need my support, Nicky Butt’s support, because it will not be an easy one for them. Of course I spoke with Nicky and his opinion is important. Every time they played at Old Trafford during the season I’ve been there, they’ve trained with me many times, I know the kids. Of course we try to bring the ones we think are more adapted to the needs of my team at this moment.”

Wayne Rooney is not certain to start against Palace after 90 minutes against Spurs and Southampton. “I don’t know,” Mourinho said on Rooney. “I will bring three or four of the first team players to play in each half, where we can give a little bit of experience to the team but also save them all for Wednesday. Wayne I don’t know. He played 90 minutes in the last match, probably not.”

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