Is Manchester United boss Jose Mourinho scared of Europa League? Read what he is saying

Jose Mourinho of Manchester United

Manchester United boss Jose Mourinho admits he does not want to be in the Europa League - and fears it could damage Manchester United's title bid.

And he is dismayed that the Premier League fixture planners have compounded United's Euro problems by handing them a nightmare week next month.

They will face Liverpool at Anfield in a TV game on Monday October 17, Fenerbahce at home in the Europa League on the Thursday, before a trip to his old club Chelsea on the following Sunday.

Mourinho is not relishing his return to a competition that he won in its old guise of the UEFA Cup with Porto in 2003. He makes no bones he would prefer to be in the Champions League, says his team selection will be made with one eye on Sunday's noon kick-off at Watford but still insists he wants to win the one trophy missing from United's honours board.

"This is not a competition that Manchester United wants," he said. "It is not a competition I want, it is not a competition the players want. But it is a competition where we are and that's the reality. We have to look to the competition with respect. We want to win it and that is the way we will approach it.

"It's true that is more difficult to win the Premier League when you are playing in the Europa League. It would be better if we had the privilege of playing on a Monday after a Thursday night game to have one more day (recovery).

"But we haven't been given that privilege and, in fact, the gift we have been given is to play Liverpool on the Monday before not the Monday after. So we play Liverpool on the Monday, Fenerbache on the Thursday and Chelsea on the Sunday. So we know we are not going to get any support on that."

Mourinho will ring the changes in the De Kuip Stadium after leaving behind a number of players, including skipper Wayne Rooney.

Rooney and Antonio Valencia have been rested, Jesse Lingard dropped while Luke Shaw (hamstring) and Henrikh Mkhitarayan (thigh) are both nursing injuries.

"Tomorrow is an important match for us," he said. "We must find that motivation that I found myself already and I have to pass that motivation on to the players because I know the Europa League is not the big dream of every big player.

"What happened last season, for example in Midtjylland, is something you don't forget as a fan. Maybe you forget as a player, but as a fan you don't. It's a big club and the next match is always important when you play for Manchester United. The players must realise that.

"We have to make sure we're not sleeping and losing before the match starts because many times you start losing before the match starts because you don't find the right motivation and attitude."