• Premier League

Rooney eyes Europa League spot

ESPN staff
April 19, 2014
Wayne Rooney has been passed fit to play against Everton after a toe injury © Getty Images
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Wayne Rooney is hoping Manchester United manage to secure qualification for next season's Europa League.

United are currently seventh in the Premier League, six points behind Tottenham but with two games in hand, but remain 10 points off fourth-placed Arsenal.

Any realistic hopes of qualifying for the Champions League appeared to be ended by their quarter-final elimination at the hands of Bayern Munich in this season's competition.

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Manager David Moyes is being placed under pressure by the club's owners, the Glazer family, to secure Europa League qualification, club sources have told ESPN.

Tottenham head coach Tim Sherwood, however, has raised concerns about playing in the competition, admitting missing out on qualification is "certainly a benefit" and suggesting the Europa League has a detrimental effect on Premier League form.

But Rooney remains unconcerned and wants to finish as high up the table as possible. Asked if he wanted to play in the competition next year, he told MUTV: "Yes, I think so.

"You want to be playing in the Champions League but it's important to finish as high up the table as you can and, if that means playing in the Europa League then so be it.

"It's a difficult competition [to win] so if we qualify for it we'll have to make sure we're ready for that."

United head to Everton - who are battling with Arsenal for the final Champions League spot - on Sunday with Rooney passed fit to feature against his boyhood club after recovering from a toe injury.

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd
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