Jose Mourinho has admitted his opinion on the Europa League has changed after it may provide Manchester United’s best opportunity to earn a Champions League spot this season.

The United boss has always devalued Europe’s second tier competition, despite winning it with Porto in 2003, and has said it is “not a competition Manchester United wants”.

The Red Devils face Fenerbahce in Turkey on Thursday night after winning the reverse fixture two weeks ago 4-1, thanks to goals Jesse Lingard, Anthony Martial and two from Paul Pogba.

The result left United joint top of Group A with six points from three games, after losing their opening round game to Feyenoord.

The Europa League rules were changed in recent years, as the winners were rewarded with a place in the Champions League, something which has made Mourinho treat the competition with more respect.

“My opinion changed because the rules changed and the Europa League - the winner has a direct [path] to the Champions League,” he said.

“In the last couple of years the Europa League for the big clubs has a different meaning.

Paul Pogba scored twice in the reverse fixture (Getty)

“It’s another way to qualify for the Champions League.”

United have struggled of late in the Premier League and are without a win in four games as well as being on the wrong side of a 4-0 thrashing against Chelsea.

But Mourinho is pleased with the way the team is currently performing and labelled the reaction to the Chelsea defeat as “unbelievable”.

“What I’m happy with is the performances,” he added. “Sometimes, you win matches but you feel that period cannot last forever because the team is not playing so well.

“Other times we don’t have good results but we feel that the way the team plays the good results have to arrive sooner or later.

Martial and Pogba scored a penalty each at Old Trafford (Getty)

“I have a very good feeling towards the players. After the bad result against Chelsea, the team reacted in an unbelievable way.”