Feyenoord vs Manchester United. UEFA Europa League Group A.
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Thursday 15 September 2016 19:11, UK
Manchester United have left a host of first-team personnel at home for their trip to the Netherlands to take on Feyenoord in the Europa League (kick-off 6pm BST).
After losing 2-1 at home to Manchester City on Saturday, United will be looking to get back to winning ways on their Europa League group stage bow.
It will be strange for United followers to see their side enter the competition at this stage with the 20-time English champions more accustomed to the Champions League for so many years.
Nonetheless, Jose Mourinho has insisted his side are in the competition to win it, and is adamant he will be fielding a strong side in Rotterdam on Thursday night.
Changes are afoot, however, with Wayne Rooney not taking part having been left at home. Marcus Rashford is in line to start.
Opponents Feyenoord have plenty of familiar foes in their ranks, with former Liverpool striker Dirk Kuyt certainly recognisable to United fans, while coach Giovanni van Bronckhorst is also a figure fans will easily identify.
The former Arsenal defender is aware of the task at hand and has singled out Rashford as "one of the biggest threats in England".
Team news
Rooney is not the only player to be left back in Manchester, with Antonio Valencia and Luke Shaw also not named in the squad to travel to the Netherlands.
The trio trained on the eve of the match but have been rested for the Group A clash, while Henrikh Mkhitaryan and Phil Jones stayed put through injury. It has since emerged that Jones (knee) could be out for a month.
The latter was substituted at half-time of Saturday's derby defeat to City along with Jesse Lingard, who has also not travelled to Holland.
Van Bronckhorst confirmed he has a fully fit squad and no players will be rested ahead of a crucial weekend clash with PSV.
Opta stats
United have won both of their previous meetings with Feyenoord, in the 1997-98 Champions League group stages (2-1 home and 3-1away).
Feyenoord have won only one of their last seven meetings with English opposition (D1 L5), 1-0 at Newcastle in the 2002-03 Champions League.
This is only Feyenoord's second season in the competition since it became the Europa League - they were eliminated by Roma in the last 32 in 2014-15.
The last time United played in the first round of the UEFA Cup/Europa League was in 1995-96 - they were knocked out on away goals by Rotor Volgograd.
Feyenoord have won four and lost four of their last eight home games in European competition (excluding qualifiers).
Manchester United have lost six of their last seven away European games, drawing the other (excluding qualifiers). Indeed, they've lost their last three European away games - they've never lost four in a row.
