Jose Mourinho expresses relief at Manchester United’s Europa League draw, while Tottenham handed Gent test
Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho expressed his relief after his side were pitted against French outfit Saint-Etienne in the last 32 of the Europa League.
Tottenham, meanwhile, who secured their passage to the knockout phase of the competition with a 3-1 victory over CSKA Moscow in their final Champions League group match, will play Gent.
“The good thing is the travel distance,” said Mourinho. “We were unlucky in the group stage. We had to go very far. It was difficult to go to Turkey and Ukraine, but now we go to France. It’s an easy flight in a busy period – February.”
United’s draw has also presented the possibility of £89m midfielder Paul Pogba coming up against his brother Florentin, who is on the books of the Ligue 1 side.
“Paul was already laughing and for sure his brother is also laughing. [Brothers coming up against each other] has happened in the history of football a few times and it’s a nice thing,” added Mourinho.
Tottenham’s opponents Gent are currently fifth in the Belgian top flight with 32 points from 18 matches.