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Sir Alex Ferguson urges Manchester United to win Europa League

Zlatan Ibrahimovic of Manchester United celebrates scoring his sides first goal with Ander Herrera during the UEFA Europa League
Image: Sir Alex Ferguson says Manchester United should aim to win the Europa League above all else

Sir Alex Ferguson believes Manchester United should focus on winning the Europa League due to the "incentive" of qualifying for the Champions League.

Saturday's 3-1 victory at Middlesbrough saw United move up to fifth in the Premier League table, four points behind Liverpool in fourth, while the Red Devils have two games in hand over their Merseyside rivals.

Winning the Europa League would secure qualification for Europe's premier club competition, and Ferguson believes Jose Mourinho's side should aim to claim the trophy.

Sir Alex Ferguson celebrates Manchester United winning the title in the newly-formed Premier League
Image: Ferguson was manager at United for 27 years between 1986 and 2013

"The thing is, we've never won the Europa League," Ferguson told ESPN. "We never won the UEFA Cup, what it used to be.

"And we've got a great draw. I'm not saying it's a certainty, but they've got a great chance.

"It's still a European trophy. And if you win it, you get into the Champions League. The incentive is greater to do that."

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26 May 1999:  Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson and keeper Peter Schmeichel with the trophy after a 2-1 victory over Bayern Munich in the UEFA Champi
Image: Ferguson oversaw his first Champions League triumph against Bayern Munich in 1999

Ferguson, who was in charge at Old Trafford for 27 years, won two Champions League trophies and a Cup Winners' Cup while at United, but English clubs have failed to win a European title since Chelsea's Europa League win in 2013.

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"In the '70s, Ajax and Bayern Munich; '80s, Liverpool; '90s Italy, AC Milan. And then England had a great spell," the 75-year-old Scot added.

MOSCOW - MAY 21:  Sir Alex Ferguson, the Manchester United manager and his team celebrate with the trophy following their victory during the UEFA Champions
Image: Ferguson won his second Champions League title in 2008

"At the moment, the cycle is with the Spanish teams. And they're best, that's why they're winning it."

United play Belgian side Anderlecht away in the first leg of their Europa League quarter-final on April 13, before hosting Rene Weiler's side at Old Trafford in the return leg a week later.

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