Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho has challenged his players to go all the way in the Europa League this season.

The Red Devils will now travel to Stade Geoffroy-Guichard when they take on Saint-Etienne in the second leg of the Europa League, having won the first leg 3-0 at Old Trafford courtesy of a Zlatan Ibrahimovic hat-trick.

The Portuguese manager believes the Red Devils have the ability to make it all the way to the finals in Stockholm in May, but admits that he faces fierce competition for a place in the finals.

‘Everybody knows it’s a long competition and we know the teams that could possibly be in the next round of 16 are very good teams,’ Mourinho told the Manchester United website.

‘They are teams that could perfectly [easily] be in the Champions League, probably some of us are better than some of the teams in the Champions League.

‘So the competition will be very strong and we know it’s non-stop, but let’s be tired for good reasons, not bad reasons, and let’s try to win and go to the next round.’

Mourinho believes the two-legged tie is far from over despite their three goal advantage over the Ligue 1 side, and says he will field a strong squad to face a strong home side.

‘It’s a good result from the first leg,’ he added.

‘But it’s not over. They dream, they’re strong at home, they have a big support. It’s a bad pitch which doesn’t help us so it’s not easy. We have a job to do and we have to come with a strong team.’

Manchester United will next take on Ligue 1 side Saint-Etienne in their Europa League Round of 32, second leg tie on Wednesday.

The match at Stade Geoffroy-Guichard kicks off at 19:00.