The Red Devils will be desperate to find their best form soon – and a few European wins could bring much-needed confidence. 2 Manchester United will find out their opponents in the Europa League groups on FridayCredit: Getty But Friday’s draw will reveal who United have to overcome – with some dangerous teams in the competition. Manchester United – runners-up to Villarreal in 2021 – will be in Pot 1 as one of the heavyweights. They will be joined by Arsenal, Lazio, Braga, Red Star Belgrade, Dynamo Kyiv and Olympiacos as well as Europa Conference League winners Roma, managed by their former boss Jose Mourinho. The worst-case scenario for United would see them draw PSV – one of the teams to be eliminated from the Champions League qualifiers. PSV are joined by Rennes as well as Monaco, Real Sociedad and Feyenoord in Pot 2. Monaco finished third last season in Ligue 1 and were knocked out of Champions League qualifying by PSV Eindhoven. They are one of the strongest teams in Pot 2 – despite losing superstar midfielder Aurelien Tchouameni in an £85m move to Champions League winners Real Madrid this summer. This week’s play-offs confirmed the remaining teams to compete in the 32-club groups.
Europa League draw pots
Pot 1: Roma, United, Arsenal, Lazio, Braga, Red Star Belgrade, Dynamo Kyiv, Olympiacos Place 2: Feyenoord, PSV, Rennes, Monaco, Real Sociedad, Qarabag, Malmo, Ludogorets Place 3: Real Betis, Midland, Bodo/Glimt, Ferencvaros, Union Berlin, Freiburg, Fenerbahce Pot 4: Nantes, HJK, Sturm Graz, AEK Larnaca, Omonia, Zurich, Union Saint-Jiloise, Trabzonspor
The most read in the Europa League
FREE BET AND SIGN UP OFFERS – BEST NEW CUSTOMER OFFERS United could be drawn in the same group as Sturm Graz, the minnows who finished second in the Austrian Bundesliga last season. Graz is the country’s second largest city and is the birthplace of bodybuilder-turned-actor-turned-politician Schwarzenegger. But it is United who could benefit from his strength and power if they are to claw their way to Europa League glory. Belgian runners-up Union Saint-Gilloise are in Pot 4 due to the small Uefa factor. Brighton’s sister club are making their UEFA competition debut after being pipped by Club Brugge in the Jupiler Pro League play-offs. However, the teams from Pot 3 and Pot 4 Ten Hag will be hoping to avoid including Real Betis and Union Berlin. 2 David de Gea and United lose 2021 Europa League final to VillarrealCredit: Reuters
