Man Utd boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer reveals Champions League plan after Europa League draw

Manchester United discovered their group stage opponents for the Europa League on Friday, as they prepare for their first entry into the competition since the 2016-17 season.

The Red Devils will take on Astana, AZ Alkmaar and Partizan in the group stages of this year’s competition.

They received a relatively easy draw, and are heavily favoured to come through as group winners.

But for Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, the prize of winning the competition isn’t the main attraction.

After a disappointing Premier League campaign last year, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s side found themselves outside of the Champions League spaces.

But the manager has a plan to get back into Europe’s elite competition, and views the Europa League as a stepping stone to the Champions League, and will utilise the fringe players in his squad.

“We want to win this tournament of course,” he insisted.

“It’s a competition that we know a lot about, we won it a couple of years back and it can be a way into the Champions League for next season.

“It’s also a way that we can use the squad and some youngsters will play these games.

“We’ll just focus on when the games come and see where we’re at.

“We’re looking forward to the games coming thick and fast now.

“There aren’t enough [games] in this [current] period… everyone is raring to go and chomping at the bit and in September and October and beyond we’ll see where we are.”