UEFA Europa League

Mourinho hopeful on Pogba, Fellaini’s return

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Manchester United trio Marouane Fellaini, Ander Herrera and Paul Pogba

Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho remains hopeful that Paul Pogba and Marouane Fellaini will return for their Europa League semi-final match against Celta Vigo on Thursday.

Pogba missed United’s last two games due to injury, while Fellaini was suspended after the defeat against Swansea when he received a red card in the Manchester derby, but is again able to play at the Estadio Balaidos.

The Portuguese manager revealed that Phil Jones or Chris Smalling will not be available for Wednesday’s trip to Spain, but says that Pogba and Fellaini are set to return.

‘I don’t think they will. That’s my personal opinion, I don’t think they will, but I know the players I choose will give everything. It doesn’t matter if I go with [Matteo] Darmian [as a] central defender, or [Michael] Carrick or Axel [Tuanzebe], I trust the boys,’ Mourinho told the Manchester United website.

‘They give everything, the spirit is amazing and the group is phenomenal. Fellaini and Pogba will be back for that game, so there are a little bit more in terms of options, so we will give everything we have.’

Mourinho admits that the fixture congestion could lead to him fielding the reserves in their final match of the Premier League season against Crystal Palace.

‘If we beat Celta, we have the final and, in this moment, it is obviously hypothetical,’ he added.

‘The Europa League final is on Wednesday,and we play against Crystal Palace on Sunday. Before that, we play Southampton away a few days before, so we would be playing the final with disastrous consequences.

‘So, again, maybe this result is also a blessing, because maybe I can bring Nicky Butt and his team to play against Crystal Palace, and hopefully they [Palace] don’t need the game to stay in the division, because it would be very, very bad if they needed the points and we played with the U23’s.’

Manchester United will now travel to the Estadio de Balaidos when they face Spanish side Celta Vigo in the Europa League semi-final first leg clash on Thursday.

Kick-off has been set for 20:45.

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