Man United news: Jose Mourinho hurting at top 4 exclusion

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Manchester United face St Etienne in the Europa League this month
The Red Devils have spent much of last two decades in the Champions League
Jose Mourinho has urged his players to finish in the top four this season
Anthony Martial, meanwhile, will start on bench against Hull on Wednesday
Frenchman impressed for United in Sunday's FA Cup victory over Wigan

Published: 17:36 EDT, 31 January 2017 | Updated: 05:38 EDT, 1 February 2017

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Jose Mourinho has urged Manchester United to step up their challenge for a top four place, admitting it hurts to be excluded from the Champions League.

United face Hull City at Old Trafford on Wednesday night looking to rediscover their winning form in the Premier League after draws with Liverpool and Stoke City.

Mourinho has had to be satisfied with Europa League football in his first season at the club, guiding United to a last 32 clash with St Etienne later this month.

Jose Mourinho has urged his Manchester United players to step up their pursuit of the top four

But the two-time European Cup winner is among a small group of coaches — including Sir Alex Ferguson, Arsene Wenger and Carlo Ancelotti —who have taken charge of 100 Champions League games. He desperately wants to be back among Europe’s elite.

‘Personally, I miss the Champions League,’ said Mourinho. ‘Every match I don’t play in the Champions League means an incredible number of matches is not going up. I am the youngest one to be in the club of 100. Every time I don’t play I am not happy.

‘But obviously Manchester United is much more important than me. What matters is Manchester United, and as everyone knows, it’s a club that belongs to the Champions League.

‘We shall do everything possible to make sure we are in it next season.

United boss Mourinho admits it hurts not to be involved in the Champions League this season

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‘We have two chances to be there: one is by winning the Europa League, the other is by finishing in the top four. Both achievable, both difficult, but we are going to work hard for that.’

The United boss revealed that Anthony Martial only did enough in last weekend’s FA Cup win over Wigan to earn a place on the bench on Wednesday night, and challenged the Frenchman to seize his opportunities.

‘He has to perform better than the others who are competing for the same positions,’ he added.

‘Do you want me to leave Henrikh Mkhitaryan out after he was man of the match and played so well? I can’t. The players pick themselves. Mkhitaryan has to play. Simple.’

Mourinho confirmed that Wayne Rooney will remain at Old Trafford for at least the rest of the season, despite the United captain being linked with a move to China where the transfer window stays open until the end of February.

He also insisted that United will continue to respect the FA Cup despite a growing fixture list following a fourth round weekend in which a number of Premier League and Championship clubs fielded under-strength teams.

‘I did it once, in my first year in England, and I understood the mistake,’ he added.

‘The FA Cup deserves respect. I will change players against Blackburn in the fifth round but I am not going with a team with seven kids. I will risk, but I can’t do that.’