Manchester United, looking to go to the top of Group A in the UEFA Europa League, travel to Istanbul Thursday to take on Fenerbahce S.K. in a Matchday Four showdown that will live stream from Turkey as the once-dominant English side fight to redeem their season by qualifying for next year’s Champions League in the only way likely to remain possible — a first-ever Europa League title.
Manchester United already has a win over the Turkish side in Group A, coming just two weeks ago at Old Trafford when the Red Devils cruised to a 4-1 victory — overcoming a goal by former United star Robin Van Persie on his first visit to Old Trafford since departing after the 2014-2015 season and scoring 48 goals in 86 games for the Premier League legends.
Our team has completed the trainings for Manchester United game. #FBSKvsMUFC #UEL pic.twitter.com/qrWdxxhVmD
— Fenerbahçe English (@Fenerbahce_EN) November 2, 2016
In his first season at Old Trafford, Manager Jose Mourinho has been forced to revise his once-dismissive view of Europa League competition. Manchester United currently sits in eighth place on the Premier League table and are already seven points off the pace set by Chelsea in the fourth slot.
As a result, winning the Europa League may prove to be Mourinho’s only chance to get the team into next season’s UEFA Champions League tournament and redeem his already-disappointing inaugural season at the helm of the once-mighty club.
After originally declaring that he simply preferred not to play in the Europa League competition, Mourinho now says the second-tier tournament will become a priority for his team.
“My opinion changed because the rules changed and the Europa League – the winner has a direct [path] to the Champions League,” Mourinho said on Wednesday. “In the last couple of years, the Europa League for the big clubs has a different meaning.”
Watch Mourinho deliver his pre-match remarks to the press in the video below.
To find out how to watch a live stream of the Fenerbahce vs. Manchester United UEFA Europa League match, see the streaming links at the bottom of this article. Kickoff is scheduled for 9 p.m. local time at ?ükrü Saraco?lu Stadium in Istanbul, Turkey, on Thursday, November 3. For fans in the United Kingdom, the live stream will get underway at 6 p.m. Greenwich Mean Time.
Europa League fans in the United States can watch a live stream of Manchester United’s second match against Fenerbahce in as many weeks starting at 2 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time, 11 a.m. Pacific.
Henrikh Mkhitaryan has been named in Manchester United’s squad for their Europa League match at Fenerbahce. pic.twitter.com/SwQm4e4UwY
— ESPN FC (@ESPNFC) November 2, 2016
As if to confirm his newfound respect for the UEFA Europa League, Mourinho traveled to Istanbul to face Fenerbahce with a 21-man squad — but Dutch forward Memphis Depay was not one of the 21 and is now believed to be fighting for his survival with Manchester United.
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Can Manchester United move to the top of Group A in the second-tier European competition, under new manager Jose Mourinho, who now admits that winning the UEFA Europa League must become a top priority for his team? Or can Turkish side Fenerbahce overtake the two-time Champions League winners — who have rarely played in and as result, never won never won the Europa League title?
To find out, watch the Fenerbahce vs. Manchester United UEFA Europa League Matchday Four showdown from 50,500-seat ?ükrü Saraco?lu Stadium in Istanbul, Turkey, with streaming video provided by Fox Sports Go at this link , or by downloading the Fox Sports Go app to watch on tablet computers and smartphones. Fox Sports Go also streams live on the Amazon Fire TV and Roku set-top streaming devices, allowing fans to watch the Fenerbahce vs. Manchester United Europa League Group Stage match stream live to their TV sets.
Fans without cable login credentials in the United States can watch Fenerbahce vs. Manchester United match legally and for free on Sling TV, by signing up for a seven-day free trial of the Sling “Blue” or “Orange” plans. Both include Fox Sports 1, which carries the UEFA Europa League match. The Sling TV plans can be accessed at this link .
In the United Kingdom, fans can watch a live stream of Fenerbahce vs. Manchester United via BTSport.com at this link , or on the BT Sport app for mobile devices.
[Featured Image By Laurence Griffiths/Getty Images]