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José Mourinho (Getty Images)
Tottenham boss Jose Mourinho says ex club United manchester will be among the favorites to win the European League, but questioned the way teams that do not qualify for the knockout stages of the Champions League enter the competition.
United will enter European second-division competition in the last 32 after losing 3-2 to RB Leipzig in their final match of the Champions League group stage on Tuesday.
United won the Europa League in 2017 with Mourinho, who will look to guide his current club, Spurs, to the top of the standings in Thursday’s decider in Group J.
“The teams that are relegated are always strong teams, teams that normally do not belong to that level of the Europa League competition,” said the Portuguese.
“Manchester United is one of the best teams. The group was very tough, PSG (Paris Saint-Germain), Manchester and Leipzig, very tough. We all knew it was not going to be easy for any of them and we all knew about that group. , a superior team would enter the Europa League. “
Former European champions Real Madrid and Ajax are also at risk of falling into the knockout stages of the Europa League.
Mourinho admitted that the quality of the tournament was improved by the Champions League teams that entered after Christmas, but questioned the sporting integrity of the tournament.
“Without a doubt the quality improves, the intensity improves and it’s a good thing for the competition,” he said.
“But from a sporting point of view is when I think it is not fair that a team that does not triumph in one competition falls in another.”
The Spurs, who have already qualified for the last 32, will be eager to avoid the possibility of facing the strongest teams in the first knockout round by winning their group with a victory over Antwerp on Thursday.
Mourinho’s team was beaten in Belgium in the reverse match, but is looking forward to finishing the job in North London.
“We did our job to qualify in the first five games and now in a home game, with 2,000 fans behind us, we have the opportunity to play a game to try to win the group,” he said.
“Is that fundamental? I don’t think it is. I don’t think we should be afraid to play any team in the next round, but of course usually the teams that win the groups are the best, so if you can avoid them in I think the next draw will be an advantage. “
