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Tottenham boss Jose Mourinho says former membership Manchester United will probably be among the many favourites to win the Europa League, however questioned the best way during which sides who fail to qualify for the Champions League final 16 drop into the competitors. United will enter the second-tier European competitors on the final 32 after dropping 3-2 at RB Leipzig of their last Champions League group recreation on Tuesday. United received the Europa League in 2017 below Mourinho, who will probably be seeking to information his present membership Spurs to the highest of the standings in Thursday’s Group J decider.
“The teams that drop down are always strong teams, teams that normally don’t belong to that level of the Europa League competition,” mentioned the Portuguese.
“Manchester United are one of the top teams. The group was very hard, PSG (Paris Saint-Germain), Manchester and Leipzig, very hard. We all knew it was not going to be easy for any one of them and we all knew from that group a top team would drop into the Europa League.”
Former European champions Real Madrid and Ajax are additionally vulnerable to dropping into the Europa League’s knockout levels.
Mourinho admitted that the standard of the match was enhanced by Champions League groups coming into after Christmas, however questioned the sporting integrity of it.
“No doubt the quality improves, the intensity improves and it’s a good thing for the competition,” he mentioned.
“But from the sports point of view is when I think it’s not fair that a team that doesn’t succeed in one competition drops to another.”
Spurs, who’ve already certified for the final 32, will probably be eager to keep away from the opportunity of assembly the stronger sides within the first knockout spherical by profitable their group with a victory over Antwerp on Thursday.
Mourinho’s crew have been overwhelmed in Belgium within the reverse fixture however he fancies them to complete the job in north London.
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“We did our job to qualify in the first five matches and now in one game at home, with 2,000 fans behind us, we have the chance to play one game to try to win the group,” he mentioned.
“Is that fundamental? I don’t think it is. I don’t think we should be afraid of playing any team in the next phase, but of course normally the teams that win the groups are the best teams so if you can avoid them in the next draw I think it will be an advantage.”
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