Jose Mourinho urges Manchester United players to keep focus for Anderlecht clash, but will be without Wayne Rooney

Rooney is out after experiencing discomfort in training on Wednesday morning

Jose Mourinho has urged his players to block out security fears (Getty)

In previous years Wayne Rooney's fitness doubts would have been the big story, a countdown timer on which Manchester United's fate hinged.

But with the 31-year-old ruled out after experiencing "bad feelings" in his ankle, all pre-match talk was instead focused on security after Borussia Dortmund were attacked by suspected would-be terrorists on Tuesday.

And Jose Mourinho, who expects a tough game in Brussels, urged United's players to focus on the job at hand and not be distracted by security fears, however difficult that may be.

"I try not to think too much about it," he said.

"I try to focus on our job and to focus on why we’re here to play. This is a quarter-final, we have to be focused on it and that’s what we try to do.

"Obviously, we have solidarity with what happened yesterday with the players that cannot play today, with the people that were scared.

"We have to believe that the match will be what people want it to be - a very good game.

"We have to trust the people who are working with our security."

European football's governing body Uefa pledged in a statement on Wednesday that it would review security arrangements for the week's games and said "procedures will be enhanced accordingly wherever needed"

Anderlecht also insisted that they are doing everything possible to help, with the host team's press officer telling their pre-match press conference "we are prepared".


 United knocked out Rostov to advance to the quarter-finals 
 (Man Utd via Getty)

And the Belgian giants' midfielder Massimo Bruno added: "We are footballers and we must go on playing.

"We have to think of something else and stick together and hope everything will be safe here tomorrow."

Brussels has been subject to higher security since March 22 last year, when coordinated attacks in the city killed 32 and injured many more.

Increased measures mean the city and all public events within it are subject to enforced security procedures, including army presence, extra security sweeps and controls.

Manchester United arrived in the Belgian capital on Wednesday afternoon and, as with every European trip, had been in close contact with the Consulate and local authorities.


 Anderlecht boast a formidable record at the Constant Vanden Stock

The mood around Anderlecht's Constant Vanden Stock Stadium is calm on the eve of the quarter-final clash and United fans were advised of increased security measures before the attack in Dortmund.

The message to travelling supporters on the club's official website read: "No bags at all will be permitted inside the stadium, including handbags.

"Unfortunately there are no storage facilities at the stadium, so we advise you not to travel with bags.

"This strict policy has emanated from concerns over terrorist incidents and will be very strictly enforced."

United fans were told they will be "searched on arrival, at the turnstiles by police" and ticket checks will take place at various points.

The information also said: "Fans without tickets are being told not to travel as they will not get into the stadium.

"Belgian police advise that all supporters without tickets on the territories of Anderlecht will be administratively arrested, by decision of the Mayor."

Security is high but, on the field, the stakes are too. With United having won every Europa League home game so far, a draw in Belgium could be enough but, for Mourinho, blocking out the noise around the game is the key.

"I focus on the football," he concluded.

Additional reporting by Simon Peach