Manchester United best XI: Does Jose Mourinho prioritise Europa League?

[Daliath.]

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. 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...

 

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.

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.

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.

 

                                   DALIATH