Man Utd set for Van Persie reunion in Europa League

A few minutes later Ideye Brown (113′) doubled the score for Olympiacos and secured his team a ticket to the Europa League group stage draw.

“It’s good for the competition, which doesn’t have the glamour of the Champions League, that Manchester United are playing against clubs of the history of Feyenoord and Fenerbahce”.

“It is a hard group but it is good”.

“If you have teams without expression then even the fans may not enjoy Thursday nights at Old Trafford”.

The Irish champions narrowly missed out on qualification for the Champions League group stages, and had to settle for a place in the continent’s second most prestigious club competition.

However, they will also come up against familiar faces at Fenerbahce, who have former United striker Robin van Persie and ex-Liverpool defender Martin Skrtel in their ranks, while Dutch opponents Feyenoord also have former Liverpool men in forward Dirk Kuyt and goalkeeper Brad Jones.

This season’s Europa League final will be played at The Friends Arena in Stockholm on 24 May 2017.

“It is good for the fans and for the players because it will help motivation”.

The Dutch side managed by former Arsenal and Barcelona midfielder Giovanni van Bronckhorst finished third in the Eredivisie last season.

UEFA ordered Feyenoord to pay a €50,000 fine and to play their next European home match behind closed doors, suspended for two years, after spectators threw objects onto the field, fireworks were lit and steps were obstructed at their last continental fixture at De Kuip, a Europa League loss to Roma in February 2015. They are another former side of Van Persie, who will find matches against both sides will tug on his heart-strings this season. Their last three matches have seen them score eight goals without reply. As an unknown opponent, United will need to do their homework before the two sides meet.

Meanwhile, Irish champion Dundalk, knocked out of the Champions League playoffs by Legia Warsaw, will face former UEFA Cup victor Zenit St Petersburg, AZ Alkmaar of the Netherlands and Maccabi Tel Aviv of Israel in Group D.

Group H: Shakhtar Donetsk (Ukraine), Braga (Portugal), Gent (Belgium), Konyaspor (Turkey).