Porto player Joao Mario has made his feelings clear about his side’s “more publicised” match against Manchester United in the Europa League on Thursday.
Manchester United punched their ticket to this season’s Europa League competition after their stunning 2-1 victory over Manchester City in the FA Cup final in May.
The Red Devils had finished eighth in the Premier League table in the 2023-24 campaign before their triumphant FA Cup win at Wembley.
Erik ten Hag’s men kicked off their Europa League campaign last week and United already dropped valuable points in their first European match of the season.
Christian Eriksen fired United into a 1-0 lead in the first half against FC Twente at Old Trafford before Sam Lammers produced a crucial second-half equaliser.
Mario’s message to Man Utd
Manchester United are currently 20th in the Europa League table as part of the competition’s new league format, which debuted in the 2024-25 season.
Erik ten Hag’s side will play eight matches – four at home and four away – in the league format ahead of potentially reaching the knockout rounds of the competition.
Porto endured a disappointing start to their Europa League campaign after Bodo/Glimt secured a stunning 3-2 upset at the Aspmyra Stadion in Norway.
The Primeira Liga side will now welcome United to the Estadio do Dragao on Thursday for their second Europa League match of the season.
Joao Mario, who is on loan at Super Lig side Besiktas, has warned United that Porto will look to “exploit their weaknesses” during the encounter in Portugal.
“The main objective is always the championship,” he said, as per Portuguese newspaper O Jogo.
“We knew we had to give a strong image after that game. It’s over, it’s time to learn from mistakes and give a good response against Manchester United.”
Mario added: “Yes, we’ll have a more publicised game, where we’ll be facing a European giant [Man United] and a very difficult team, but we have our strengths; we’ll try and exploit their weaknesses and go in to win, as always.”
Bruno Fernandes talks Porto clash
United captain Bruno Fernandes admitted that United are facing a team that has been “improving” under manager Vitor Bruno and expects a “really difficult” match.
“It’s a side that always does really well in Europe, we have to be aware of that,” he told MUTV, as per Manchester United’s official website.
“It’s a team that has a great spirit, [are] improving a lot in the last few games, even if they lost the last game in the Europa League.”
Fernandes added: “It is a team that has been improving under their new manager.
“We expect a really difficult game there, but we go there to win because it’s everything that we have to think about.”
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