Manchester United are within touching distance of the Round of 32 in the Europa League and, if all goes to plan against Zorya Luhansk on Thursday evening, they could end up as Group A winners.
In order to qualify, Jose Mourinho’s men simply need to pick up at least a point against bottom-of-the-table Zorya Luhansk at Chornomorets Stadium. Manchester United’s record against Ukrainian teams bodes well given they are unbeaten in seven matches. United would also go through with a defeat if Feyenoord fail to win at home to leaders Fenerbahce, while Zorya will definitely finish fourth in the group.
Feyenoord’s clash with Fenerbahce is certain to have a bearing on United’s position in Group A, but the Mourinho is more concerned with qualifying rather than fretting on topping the standings.
“We know one point is enough,” he added. “We know the result in Rotterdam also has an influence, but I just want to be focused on our game. Try to win, try to be in a position where we don’t suffer, where we’re not in trouble. Let’s try to win but knowing a point is enough.
“To be honest, I don’t think [winning the group] is very important. The second leg at home or away doesn’t have a big influence. The most important thing is to qualify from what’s probably the most difficult group in the Europa League and a group that has more quality than some Champions League groups.
“It’s a difficult group. Even Zorya, you can see how difficult they are because, at home, they have two draws and have only lost 1-0 away to us and Feyenoord and 2-0 to Fenerbahce with 10 men.
Manchester United were frustratingly held to a draw at Everton in the Premier League on Sunday and face another big game at home to Tottenham Hotspur only three days after taking on Zorya, so Mourinho will doubtless factor that into his team selection for the game in Odessa.
Zorya manager Yuriy Vernydub, whose team have already been eliminated from Group A, has been speaking to the media this afternoon and he is optimistic about the hosts’ chances.
“Man United need these points but I think we can make history at our football club,” he said. “Of course we lost our first game with Man United but… I think our chances for this game is very good.”
Zorya are certain to be eliminated from their maiden Europa League campaign, but the exiled Ukrainian side have drawn both their home games so far in their adopted home of Odessa.
Zorya were forced to leave their home city in 2014 because it is situated in the war-torn Donbass region of Ukraine. They’ve since been playing their home league games 300 miles away in Zaporizhia but that stadium doesn’t meet UEFA requirements, so they have been contesting their Europa League fixtures even further afield, in the southern port city of Odessa.
Head to Head
Manchester United eased to a 1-0 win over Zorya in September’s reverse fixture at Old Trafford, the first and only ever meeting between the sides. The Ukrainians proved to be stubborn opposition on the night, but a Zlatan Ibrahimovic goal was enough to seal an important win for the hosts.
Manchester United are unbeaten in three previous trips, which were all in the Champions League. The Reds drew 0-0 with Dynamo Kiev in September 2000 and beat the same opposition 4-2 in October 2007, en route to winning the competition that season. Most recently, Danny Welbeck scored in a 1-1 draw with Shakhtar Donetsk in October 2013.
source:sofascore.comsofascore.com
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