Jose Mourinho will play a weakened team in the Premier League to ‘protect’ key players for Europe if he believes Manchester United’s hopes of a top-four finish are fading.
An eighth league draw at Old Trafford this season — and 11th in total — dealt United another blow in the race for Champions League places.
Their best chance of qualification may be via the Europa League, and Mourinho is ready to prioritise the quarter-final against Anderlecht if his team do not pick up enough points from tomorrow’s game at home to Everton and Sunday’s trip to Sunderland.