Jose Mourinho Says Second-String Manchester United Players Will ‘Fight’ At Arsenal

Jose Mourinho has announced that he will rest Manchester United’s top players for Sunday’s Premier League game at Arsenal, but the Portuguese manager added the second-string stars will give it their all that night.

Jose Mourinho: Substitute Man U Stars Will ‘Fight’ at Arsenal

Among the players Mourinho plans to rest are Marcus Rashford, Eric Bailly, Daley Blind and Paul Pogba. Instead, the manager said, the starters for Sunday’s matchup against Arsene Wenger’s club will include Wayne Rooney, Michael Carrick, Juan Mata, Chris Smalling and Phil Jones.

The Red Devils are just one point short of the top four in the race for Champions League qualifying, although Mourinho says winning the Europa League should be United’s top priority.

“We are going to try [to win on Sunday]. We are going to try,” the 54-year-old said. “We are not going to Arsenal to say ‘beat us,’ or ‘beat us 5-[0] or 6-0,’ we are going there to fight for a result, but it’s impossible [to field a full-strength team]. I cannot do it in another way.

“I think the last match against Swansea [a 1-1 draw] was our last chance to fight for top four, so I am going to rest players, sure.”

After Arsenal, United will host Celta Vigo for the Europa League semi-final second leg on Thursday. Mourinho’s team won the first-leg game in Spain 1-0 on Thursday. During that game, Rashford limped off after scoring United’s lone goal on a free-kick, while Ashley Young also left with an apparent hamstring injury after just 11 minutes of play.

Winning this tournament will guarantee the Red Devils a spot in the Champions League next season. United have lost three key players for the remainder of the season due to injuries, however: Luke Shaw, Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Marcos Rojo.

Mourinho also revealed that first-choice goalkeeper David De Gea — who is rumored to be traded to Real Madrid — will play against Arsenal, after Sergio Romero featured in Thursday’s victory at Vigo.

“Sunday, we play David. We have two fantastic goalkeepers,” said Mourinho. “We have a third goalkeeper [Joel Pereira] who I think will be the best Portuguese goalkeeper of the next generation, so anyone in goal I trust completely.”

WIGAN, ENGLAND – JULY 16: Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho looks on during the pre season friendly match between Wigan Athletic and Manchester United at the JJB Stadium on July 16, 2016 in Wigan, England. (Photo by Chris Brunskill/Getty Images)