ISTANBUL — Fenerbahce’s coach, Jose Mourinho, expressed his belief that Manchester United, their opponent on Thursday, ranks among the top two contenders to claim the Europa League title. 

 
“In my view, it isn’t hard to identify the primary candidates for the Europa League; it would be Manchester United and Tottenham,” Mourinho stated during a press conference held the day before the match. Mourinho, who previously managed United, led them to victory in the Europa League in 2017, a significant highlight of his two-year tenure. 

 
Currently, Fenerbahce has accumulated four points from their first two matches in the tournament, while Manchester United has struggled, managing only two draws so far. Despite United’s position at 12th in the Premier League, Mourinho emphasized that they are a stronger side than their recent performances suggest. 

 
“I don’t believe there’s any reason for Manchester United to feel intimidated by Fenerbahce. However, they’re aware that this match won’t come easily,” Mourinho noted. “If they approach it thinking it will be a walk in the park, they would be mistaken. They understand the challenge ahead.” 

 
Mourinho took over at Fenerbahce in June, aiming to break a decade-long championship drought for the team in Turkey’s top league. He resigned from his position at Roma earlier in January. Presently, Fenerbahce sits in fourth place in their domestic league after completing eight matches. 

 
Manchester United will be without their captain, Bruno Fernandes, who is suspended for one match after receiving two yellow cards in a 3-3 draw against Porto in a past Europa League fixture. Porto is known for being the club Mourinho guided to the UEFA Cup title back in 2003.