Manchester United, Tottenham Hotspur Eye Respite From Domestic Woes In Europa League

Manchester United and Tottenham kick off their Europa League campaigns this week, hoping to put disappointing starts to the Premier League season behind them. Erik ten Hag's United have failed to show any real improvement from a miserable season last term, sitting outside the top 10 already domestically with just seven points from five matches. The Dutch manager narrowly clung on to his job despite leading the Old Trafford giants to their worst-ever Premier League finish of eighth last term, largely thanks to a surprise FA Cup final victory over Manchester City.

United spent heavily in the transfer market, but the expected upturn in fortunes on the pitch are yet to materialise ahead of their Europa League opener at home to Twente on Wednesday.

A goalless draw at Crystal Palace last weekend snuffed out some of the positivity garnered from the 3-0 win over Southampton and League Cup thrashing of Barnsley, but Ten Hag insists his team are progressing.

"The performance is good, but we are not happy with the score. We are disappointed with the score, it's clear," he said after the stalemate at Selhurst Park.

"But I know one thing for sure in football, it's a long way to go and when you play in the quality we now deliver the points will come, the goals will come.

"Now we can work on the team, we can build structures, we can also bring out some consistency in selection, and that helps, of course, to bring the patterns and routines in, and then you play better."

Man United are back in the revamped Europa League after a disastrous Champions League performance last season that saw the three-time European champions finish bottom of their group.

Anything other than a victory against Dutch club Twente, back in the competition proper