LOWLY RED DEVILS SEEK EUROPA HIGH

Struggling side must start well in Europe to ease growing pressure on manager, players

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Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur kick off their Europa League campaigns this week, hoping to put disappointing starts to the English 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 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 FC Twente on Sept 25.

A 0-0 draw at Crystal Palace last weekend snuffed out some of the positivity garnered from the 3-0 win over Southampton and 7-0 League Cup thrashing of Barnsley, but ten Hag insists his team are progressing.

"The performance (at Palace) is good, but we are not happy with the score. We are disappointed with the score, it's clear," the 54-year-old said.