#Manchester United are under no pressure to win the Europa League 2017 despite being left with only one route to the next season of the Champions League, claimed boss Jose Mourinho.

Manchester United lost 2-0 to Arsenal on Sunday and ended their hopes of qualifying for the Champions League by finishing in the top four of the Premier League. But United defeated Spanish side Celta Vigo 1-0 in the first leg of their Europa League 2017 semi-finals thanks to Marcus Rashford’s second-half brilliant free-kick.

Thursday will see Manchester United take on Celta at Old Trafford in their semi-final decider in the Europa League 2017 that many now consider to be a top priority for Mourinho.

Despite this and the fact that there is no guarantee United’s expensively assembled squad will be among the European elite next season, the Portuguese remained calm.

“There’s no pressure whatsoever,” Jose Mourinho was quoted as saying by Goal.com.

The former Chelsea coach said his Manchester United side will take one thing at a time, saying his team will focus first on getting to the final of the Europa League before trying to win the final match. He calmly said this kind of pressure is normal.

United to receive a boost

United received a boost with the return to action of Phil Jones, Chris Smalling and Juan Mata against Arsenal last weekend. But they will still miss five players as Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Ashley Young, Marcos Rojo, Luke Shaw and Tim Fosu-Mensah are sidelined through injury.

Daley Blind, Eric Bailly, Paul Pogba and Antonio Valencia could be among the big hitters during their Europa League 2017 return leg against Celta after being rested against Arsenal. Sergio Romero may take his regular starting spot at the post in place of David De Gea. Marouane Fellaini, who will serve the final match of his three-game domestic ban against Tottenham Hotspur on Sunday, will also be available.

Jose Mourinho said it is not possible to make all his men play all the games. He further said he wanted to create the right conditions for his squad to compete with a Celta team that is resting all their players in their domestic league.

More options and money for United

More options are available for Mourinho come the Europa League game but a number of young players may be included in the Premier League roster if Manchester United advance to the Europa League 2017 final.

There has also been talk that Manchester United, now gunning for a European and domestic league treble, could earn more by entering the Europa League 2017 final than playing in the Champions League.