Man United have ‘no time to mourn’ derby defeat as focus turns to Europa League opener

Jose Mourinho has turned his focus away from Manchester United's derby defeat to European action with a tricky Europa League opener at in-form Feyenoord on Thursday.

Marcus Rashford is set for his first start of the season as Manchester United take on Feyenoord in their Europa League group opener. Alex Livesey / Getty Images
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Jose Mourinho has turned his focus away from Manchester United's derby defeat to the Europa League opener at in-form Feyenoord on Thursday.

It will be the Portuguese manager’s first game in the second-tier European competition since winning its predecessor, the Uefa Cup, with Porto in 2003.

Mourinho's unbeaten start as United manager came to an in end in the Premier League on Saturday as Pep Guardiola's Manchester City left Old Trafford with a 2-1 victory.

United can expect a tough Group A opener at Feyenoord, who are top of the Dutch league having won all five of their matches this season and have pedigree in the competition.

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United’s Spanish midfielder Juan Mata warned that after the disappointment of derby day there was “no time for mourning”.

“On Thursday we’re going to play the first game in the Europa League, away against Feyenoord, a classic in European football,” Mata said on his weekly blog.

“It’s going to be a very demanding debut in this competition.”

Mourinho has said that teenage striker Marcus Rashford will play after his impressive second-half cameo along with midfielder Ander Herrera on Saturday.

“He (Rashford) is going to play is the only thing I can say. I trust him completely and I know his future will be absolutely brilliant,” Mourinho said.

English-Dutch clashes are often feisty affairs but United have beaten Feyenoord in both of their previous meetings.

This time it will be more subdued — at least in the stands — with the capacity of the De Kuip stadium in Rotterdam halved to 26,000 following Uefa sanctions for crowd trouble against Roma earlier this year.

United fans, whose ticket allocation has been slashed to 1,400, have been advised by the club not to wear United colours and avoid areas of potential conflict.

“I’m confident that — in spite of the measures the club has to take — an atmosphere will be created again at De Kuip to ensure we, as a team, are able to perform at our very best in our home matches,” Feyenoord manager Giovanni Van Bronckhorst said.

Former United and Feyenoord striker Robin van Persie is set to play both clubs as his Fenerbahce side are also in Group A with the Turkish side taking on Zorya Luhansk of Ukraine in their opener.

Van Persie won the competition with boyhood club Feyenoord in 2002.

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