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Man United boss Jose Mourinho discusses Europa League chances: These are our rivals
MANCHESTER UNITED boss Jose Mourinho believes his side will face a battle to win the Europa League if they reach the quarter-finals.
Mourinho shows softer side before Rostov match
Manchester United face Rostov tonight (8.05pm) after a 1-1 draw in the first leg last week.
Henrikh Mkhitaryan bagged a crucial away goal before the Russian minnows levelled through Aleksandr Bukharov.
United are firm favourites to win the competition with teams such as Tottenham and Fiorentina already out.
Jose Mourinho is wary of Manchester United's Europa League rivals
Henrikh Mkhitaryan scored a crucial away goal for Manchester United
But Mourinho believes there is enough quality left in the competition to hamper his side’s chances of winning the trophy for the first time.
"The teams are good," Mourinho said.
"When you look to the possible people in the quarter-finals, you have Roma or Lyon, you have Besiktas, you have one of the two German teams [Schalke and Borussia Monchengladbach] and possibly Celta Vigo – it’s not easy.
"But we are going to try and the next step is obviously to try to be in the quarter-final draw."
Zlatan Ibrahimovic is set to return for Manchester United tonight
United’s chances of making the last eight will be boosted by the return of Zlatan Ibrahimovic.
The 35-year-old is currently serving a three-match domestic suspension for an elbow on Bournemouth defender Tyrone Mings.
And Ibrahimovic will be aiming to add to his 26 United goals should he start tonight.
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