Manchester United best XI: Does Mourinho Prioritise Europa League?

Sitting fifth in the Premier League with some tough fixtures to come, Europa League success may be Manchester United's best hope of a Champions League return. Should Jose Mourinho play his strongest side in the competition? If so, what is it? We look at his options...

The Premier League run-in is upon us, but rather than the staple title challenge of the Sir Alex Ferguson era, Manchester United's main goal this campaign is securing a return to the Champions League for next season.

Trailing Manchester City in fourth by four points, albeit having played a game less, and with trips to City, Tottenham and Arsenal still to come, the best chance of securing a seat at Europe's top table could be through winning the Europa League; something Mourinho's men are firm favourites to achieve.



A route to the final, which starts with Belgian side Anderlecht in Thursday's quarter-final first leg, will mean a Thursday-Sunday diary for the rest of the season for United, with the final in Stockholm on May 24, the Wednesday after the final day of the Premier League season, the only outlier.

Such a settled, albeit congested, final six weeks of the season gives Mourinho opportunity to plan his squad rotation, and utilise his most potent assets to secure a first European crown in nine years.


It could be a risky approach, though, as the nature of cup competition is never entirely predictable, but with those aforementioned daunting trips to come, as well as some tough home fixtures, starting with Chelsea this Sunday live on Sky Sports, even a full-strength United might struggle to sneak into that top four.

If Mourinho does focus United's efforts on Europe, who makes the best XI to take to the field in Brussels on Thursday? Injuries make the defensive selection a little easier, but plenty of options further forward give Mourinho decisions to make. Here are our picks from those currently available, and we invite you to give us your selections in the comments section below...

Defence

With Phil Jones and Chris Smalling missing for the foreseeable future, the centre-back pairing almost picks itself, with Marcus Rojo and Eric Bailly the only recognised central defenders fit and available.

Daley Blind is perfectly adept in the middle of defence, having started the season alongside Bailly in the middle, but was exposed by the quality of Kevin De Bruyne and Manchester City in September. He has started just once more in the middle since. United have only been breached once in the four Premier League games with Bailly and Rojo down the middle.

Antonio Valencia has made right-back his own, and like James Milner at Liverpool, the winger-turned-full-back looks the part. He has retained his attacking influence - of the top flight right-backs only Hector Bellerin has completed more dribbles, two players made more key passes, and Bournemouth's Adam Smith contributed more assists.

The Ecuador international should be fit for Thursday after a recent knock, but Matteo Darmian, who looks more settled at Old Trafford this season, could come in against Chelsea. Ashley Young may have to come in to face Burnley in between the return leg against Anderlecht and the Manchester derby the following Thursday, just to keep things fresh.

On the other flank comes Mourinho's conundrum. Much has been made of his treatment of Luke Shaw - tough love or ostensibly disrespectful? Now, Shaw is back in the side, and impressed his manager in the win over Sunderland. The best place for him right now is in the side. Blind and Darmian will be waiting in the wings, and will see plenty of action before the end of the season.

Midfield

Mourinho traditionally likes playing more disciplined midfielders in the two deep roles. The Portuguese did shift Cesc Fabregas further up the pitch to great success in his second Chelsea spell, but on the whole the pragmatist that Mourinho is favours a more rigid midfield.

Paul Pogba's arrival has given Mourinho a dilemma, and he is yet to decide where he favours utilising the France international.

The recent Bournemouth draw saw Pogba pushed back into a defensive midfield two. The 24-year-old still completed the most passes in opposition's half, but with extra bodies ahead of him, and therefore less space to work with, he gave the ball away on 24 occasions, nine times more than any other United player.

Afforded space to produce his magic, in his favoured position on the left of a midfield three, like he did against Crystal Palace in mid-December - his most fruitful performance of the season as he scored one and assisted another in a 2-1 win - Pogba can start to justify his world-record fee.

United's best winning run amid a myriad of draws coincided with a shift to 4-3-3 in mid-December, with the five successive victories kick-started by success over Tottenham.

Ander Herrera and Michael Carrick partnered Pogba in the middle in three of those five. Herrera has become somewhat of cult figure with his combative nature and work ethic popular in the Stretford End - work rate that will be required on the continent to ensure United take a positive result to Manchester in the Europa League last eight.

Carrick's calming influence compliments the two well, and his experience of European competition, especially knowledge of knockout ties, is invaluable.

With Chelsea to come at the weekend, Marouane Fellaini is an extra, more physical option Mourinho likes to deploy against the better teams, with Blind also able to cover that defensive position, while Jesse Lingard can operate in the advanced role.

The Swansea match at Old Trafford, ahead of a potential Europa League semi-final, is likely to be the time we see Mourinho rotate most, with Lingard's energy a useful outlet.

Forwards

United's self-proclaimed Benjamin Button will lead the line on Thursday, of that there can be no doubt. Zlatan Ibrahimovic's five Europa League goals have pulled United out of some sticky situations, not least a hat-trick against Saint-Etienne at home, when United were on the ropes.

The Swede has proven he does not need a rest, looking more relentless as the season wears on, and will likely be required at Stamford Bridge and the upcoming Manchester derby too. He relishes such occasions. Whether he can play two games a week at this level for the rest of the season remains to be seen. Burnley and Swansea may be spared.

Mourinho has a wealth of options to blood alongside Ibrahimovic. After ending his long wait for a goal at the weekend against Sunderland, Marcus Rashford is primed for a start, and with that taste for goals back, playing him in Brussels is a wise plan.

Henrikh Mkhitaryan's form, after being regularly overlooked by Mourinho earlier in the season, has been a real plus. United have a 55.6 per cent win ratio in the league with the Armenia international in the side, compared to 41.7 per cent when he is left out, while averaging more goals per game with Mkhitaryan present.

His recent injury problems mean he won't be able to play twice a week, paving the way for Anthony Martial to silence the doubters once more. The France international has been inconsistent this campaign, managing just seven goals in all competitions. A final flourish will be on the agenda, though.

Record-breaker Wayne Rooney has become somewhat the forgotten man at Old Trafford. An ankle injury means he is unlikely to feature on Thursday, but with so many games to come, expect the United captain to see plenty of action at home and abroad.

Credit: Skysports.com