“Mourinho has issued a stern warning to his Fenerbahce players ahead of today’s ‘must-win’ match against Manchester United, stating that he’s ready to sell any player who refuses to face the opponent. He noted that while the entire squad is usually intimidated by this particular player, they must overcome their fears to secure the victory.”

Thursday night’s Europa League clash between Fenerbahce and Manchester United on Matchday 3 brings a host of intriguing storylines. One key narrative is the reunion of Jose Mourinho with his former club, Manchester United, which he left in 2018 under challenging circumstances.

Since then, Mourinho has managed Tottenham Hotspur and Roma, where he secured the Conference League trophy. Now leading Fenerbahce, Mourinho took over in the summer after the club narrowly missed winning the Turkish Super Lig title last season.

However, the team’s current league form has been inconsistent, as they trail rivals Galatasaray by eight points after eight matches.

For Manchester United, manager Erik ten Hag is set to face Mourinho for the first time. Ten Hag is looking to build on the momentum from their second-half performance against Brentford on Saturday.

United’s form has been erratic since their 3-0 home defeat to Tottenham, and Ten Hag is under pressure to improve the team’s results. United have yet to secure a win in the league phase and sit 21st in the standings, while Fenerbahce is 13th, having collected four points from two games, including a victory over Union Saint-Gilloise on Matchday 1.

Fenerbahce has been hit by injuries, with starting left-back Jayden Oosterwolde suffering a season-ending ACL injury. Mourinho may opt to deploy former United player Fred or Murt Muldur as a replacement.

Additionally, familiar names like Sofyan Amrabat, Allan Saint-Maximin, and Edin Dzeko are expected to play for the Turkish side. Other players such as Cengiz Under, Ismail Yuksek, Bright Osayi-Samuel, and Irfan Can Egribayat are sidelined, and Filip Kostic is not in the Europa League squad.

For United, Bruno Fernandes is suspended following his red card in a recent 3-3 draw with Porto. Injuries also rule out Mason Mount, Kobbie Mainoo, Harry Maguire, Tyrell Malacia, and Luke Shaw. Leny Yoro has resumed training but won’t be available on Thursday, while Noussair Mazraoui could make a return to the starting lineup.

As for predictions, despite Fenerbahce’s struggles to establish consistent form, Mourinho will be highly motivated to achieve a result against his former club. United’s unpredictability leaves room for the hosts to secure a draw. A 2-2 scoreline seems likely, extending United’s winless run in the league phase.