Jose Mourinho Says He Won't Field Weakened Manchester United Team vs. Chelsea

Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho will not field a weakened lineup in Sunday's Premier League clash against former club Chelsea, which is sandwiched between the two legs of his side's UEFA Europa League clash with Anderlecht.

The Red Devils face Anderlecht in Belgium on Thursday before returning to Old Trafford for Sunday's showdown with the Premier League leaders, but Mourinho has said the Blues will face his side at their strongest, per Sky Sports:

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When it is still mathematically possible to finish in the top four I think if we play against Chelsea with our second team you would kill me. The football country would kill me. There is no reason not to try while it's mathematically possible. If on a certain moment of the season we have no chances to get top four and we are still in the Europa League then nobody can criticise.

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United sit fifth in the Premier League standings with eight games left to play this season. A win over Chelsea is vital if they want to catch fourth-placed rivals Manchester City, who are four points ahead but have played one game more than the Red Devils.

Mourinho iterated his desire to retain a fully fit squad for the remainder of the season following recent injuries to Juan Mata, Chris Smalling and Phil Jones, as well as enforcing a fight mentality as he seeks a top-four finish:

"I hope we have no more injuries, no more suspensions, and I hope the players keep showing amazing character to keep going and going. Until it's not possible, we are going to fight for the top four."

United could make their two-legged showdown with Anderlecht all the easier by sealing an away win this Thursday, which could in turn free up the squad to be more adventurous for the visit of Chelsea come Sunday.

The Blues no longer look quite as invincible as they once did, however, having suffered a 2-1 home defeat to Crystal Palace at the start of the month and failing to keep clean sheets in their last four matches.

However, United club captain Wayne Rooney has been confirmed as an absentee for Thursday's first leg with Anderlecht, while Mourinho revealed he could be fit to face Chelsea, per BBC Radio Manchester's Bill Rice:

The Red Devils may be 18 points off the Blues, with the competition between these two clubs a far cry from what it has been in years gone by, but it's for that reason a United victory would somehow be all the sweeter this Sunday.

Chelsea manager Antonio Conte can look forward to facing the Old Trafford hosts at their finest, too, a fate the Italian will undoubtedly relish as he seeks to prove his side are worthy Premier League trailblazers.

This article will be updated to provide more information on this story as it becomes available.

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