Fenerbahce coach Jose Mourinho thinks that Manchester United is one of the two teams most likely to win the Europa League in their upcoming match on Thursday.
“If I have to say now which are the two biggest candidates to win the Europa League, I think it’s easy, Manchester United and Tottenham,” Mourinho said at his press conference on Wednesday.
Mourinho, who previously managed United, helped them win the Europa League title in 2017 during his two years with the team.
Fenerbahce has four points from their first two games in the tournament, while United has had two draws.
Even though United is currently in 12th place in the Premier League, Mourinho believes they are “a better team than results are showing.”
“I don’t see any reason for Manchester United to be afraid of Fenerbahce but I think they know it’s not an easy game for them,” he explained. “If they come thinking it’ll be easy, it is the wrong approach and I don’t think that will be the approach. They know the game can be difficult for them.”
Mourinho joined Fenerbahce in June to try to break a 10-year wait for the Turkish championship. He left Roma in January.
Fenerbahce is currently in fourth place in their domestic league after eight matches.
United will be without their captain Bruno Fernandes, who is serving a one-game suspension after receiving two yellow cards and being sent off in a 3-3 draw against Porto, the team Mourinho led to the UEFA Cup title in 2003.
