Man United will take the Europa League seriously, insists Sir Alex

Sir Alex Ferguson has declared that Manchester United want to win the Europa League – and insists the defending Premier League champions will take the competition seriously.

The Red Devils were eliminated from the Champions League after their 2-1 loss to Swiss side Basel left them in third place in Group C, and Ferguson originally described the having to play in the Europa League as “a penalty”.

But the 70-year-old has promised to field his “strongest team” for the trip to Ajax on Thursday, signalling United’s intent to win Europe’s second tier competition.

“I’m definitely treating it seriously,” he told United’s website. “The great thing about Thursday is we don’t have a game next Saturday so I can play my strongest team and will play my strongest team.

“The thing is to look forward to it. It’s still European football and still a good standard,” he asserted.

“I think it’s amazing that, in the 55 years we’ve been involved in Europe, we’ve never played Ajax. When you think of all the draws that have been made, the quarter-finals and the groups, we’ve never drawn them.

“It’ll be a full house too with a great stadium and a great pitch. They’re not having a great time at the moment but I think, playing United, they will be well motivated for it and always play nice football too.”