Man Utd Set For Robin Van Persie Reunion

Manchester United have been drawn against Fenerbahce, Feyenoord and Zorya Luhansk in Group A of the Europa League. Here’s a look at their European campaign.

This is not the easiest draw United could have had, with trips to Turkey and Ukraine, but it is certainly intriguing. It’s a romantic story to have drawn Fenerbahce, who have former United striker Robin van Persie in their ranks. Being paired with the Turkish club, who were 2013 semifinalists in this competition the season Chelsea won it, is an evocative draw, bringing back memories of Wayne Rooney’s United debut hat trick against them in a 6-2 win at Old Trafford in 2004.

Fenerbahce also ended United’s 40-year unbeaten European record at home when Elvir Bolic struck in a 1-0 victory for the Turkish club in the Champions League back in October 1996. While Van Persie is heading back to Manchester — and Fenerbahce’s new signing Martin Skrtel will know all about Old Trafford too — one player who won’t is Nani, after he was sold to Valencia earlier this summer.

Feyenoord, another of Van Persie’s former clubs, finished third in the Eredivisie last season, albeit way adrift of champions PSV Eindhoven and Ajax in second. United have history with the Dutch club, with Sir Alex Ferguson furious following a dangerous tackle on Denis Irwin by Paul Bosvelt back in November 1997. United won 3-1 but Irwin was ruled out for six weeks following the challenge, with sparked a fracas on the touchline between Ferguson and Geert Meijer, the caretaker coach of Feyenoord at the time.

Ukrainian side Zorya Luhansk are making their first appearance in this competition at the group stage and finished fourth in their domestic league last season. They were involved in an entertaining 4-3 second leg defeat against Feyenoord, losing 5-4 on aggregate, in a Europa League playoff in August two years ago.

A trip to Istanbul is never a comfortable one so going away to Fenerbahce on Nov. 3 will test United’s mettle. Led by former Rangers and Sunderland manager Dick Advocaat, they finished second in the Turkish league last season, five points behind champions Besiktas. That meant they went into the Champions League third qualifying round, where they were eliminated 4-3 on aggregate against Monaco, sending the Turkish club into the Europa League. There had been doubts over the match taking place due to the ongoing turmoil in Turkey.

Jose Mourinho says he plans to make use of his fringe players when the cup competitions begin in September. That will mean United could field some untested combinations and it will be important for them to gel quickly and for players to show the right attitude even if they have not been featuring as much as they would have liked.

United’s expected involvement in the Premier League title race would mean Premier League games are prioritised over European competition. In the latter stages, that could open the door for other leading European clubs, who will take this competition more seriously, to take advantage.

It does not help that their Ukrainian opponents are unknown quantities, with Mourinho admitting he does not “have a vision of them or their qualities.”

United should expect to top the group despite the challenges they face. They could miss out if they stumble against Fenerbahce and then lose against Feyenoord but that’s a highly unlikely combination of events.

That makes Feyenoord away on Sep.15 a key game, and Mourinho has already highlighted the trip to Rotterdam as “a big match to play”. Secure a positive result from that one and it should be a smooth passage for Mourinho’s men.

Feyenoord have won all three of their Eredivisie games so far this season and are top of the league on goal difference. At home last season, they only lost three out of 17 league games, conceding 14 goals. Like Fenerbahce, they have a former Liverpool player in their squad, with Dirk Kuyt scoring 23 goals for them last season.

Winners. United have the quality to go all the way in the competition and despite domestic distractions, they have the depth of squad and calibre of manager to win the trophy.