Fenerbahce v Manchester United - as it happened: Jose Mourinho's men slump to second shock defeat in Europe
Relive all the action from United's Europa League clash
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Your support makes all the difference.After putting four past Fenerbahce last month, Manchester United will be out for three more points tonight as they take on their Turkish opponents in Instanbul.
In a recent change in opinion, Jose Mourinho admitted he is now willing to take the Europa League more seriously - as it offers a route to the Champions League.
“My opinion changed because the rules changed and the Europa League - the winner has a direct [path] to the Champions League,” Mourinho said.
“In the last couple of years the Europa League for the big clubs has a different meaning."
Currently sat in second place in Group A on six points, tied with Feyenoord, a win this evening will see United move to nine points and put the side in a strong position for qualification.
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Manchester United's Europa League results:
- Manchester United 4-1 Fenerbahce
- Manchester United 1-0 Zorya Luhansk
- Feyenoord 1-0 Manchester United
Good evening and welcome to the Independent's live coverage of Manchester United's Europa League clash with Fenerbahce. We'll be bringing you all the live goals and updates as they happen so make sure to stay tuned!
Right on cue, the teams are in! Here's how United will be lining up:
Wayne Rooney makes a return to the starting XI as Zlatan Ibrahimovic is dropped to the bench. France's Morgan Schneiderlin - another outsider in the United outfit - comes back into the side.
It's a big game for Luke Shaw too whose position in the side has been called into question in recent weeks. He'll need to put in a stellar performance tonight to convince the gaffer of his worth.
No RVP interestingly. Manager Dick Advocaat had said in his press conference yesterday that the Dutchman was not injured, despite being pulled off in the 66th minute during the side's game at the weekend. Even so, it looks like he won't be starting tonight. Good news or bad news for United?
Talking of absent players, Manchester United's Memphis Depay is nowhere to be seen. The Dutchman was left out of Jose Mourinho's 21-man match day squad for tonight's fixture and rumours are flying thick and fast with regards to his future at the club. Fenerbahce's Dick Advocaat has stoked the flames after suggesting that the forward can only reach his full potential as a player if he leaves United. Will the player be thinking this too? Quite possibly. After all, he's made just one start under Mourinho this season. Concerning times for the Dutchman.
Speaking ahead of today's game, Mourinho made it clear that his opinion on the Europa League has changed. After repeatedly moaning about the quality of football on offer and it's sub-status as a competition, the United manager is now willing to take the Europa League a bit more seriously. Why? Because it offers a path to the Champions League. Duh.
"My opinions change because the rules change and the Europa League winner qualifies for the Champions League," he said. "For the past couple of years the Europa League has had new meaning for big teams."
Jose Mourinho
Here's a reminder of the teams:
Fenerbahce: Volkan; Sener, Kjaer, Skrtel, Hasan Ali; Josef, Mehmet Topal, Alper; Lens, Sow, Sen.
Subs: Fabiano, Van Persie, Koybasi, Emenike, Neustadter, Ucan, Stoch.
Manchester United: De Gea; Darmian, Blind, Rojo, Shaw; Schneiderlin, Herrera, Pogba; Martial, Rooney, Rashford.
Subs: Romero, Jones, Fellaini Mata, Mkhitaryan, Young, Ibrahimovic.
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