Jose Mourinho: Europa League final would be the perfect end to the season for Manchester United

The Europa League may represent United's best chance of returning to the Champions League next year while Ibrahimovic could return to Sweden for the game

Jose Mourinho wants Manchester United to finish the season strong (Getty)

Jose Mourinho insists that the Europa League final would be the "perfect" way to end a difficult first season at Manchester United.

Despite winning the EFL Cup, Mourinho has struggled domestically with United still outside the top four places four points adrift of rivals City with only seven games of the season remaining.

The Europa League may represent United's best chance of returning to the Champions League next year and ahead of the quarter-final second-leg with Anderlecht this evening Mourinho admits he has set his sights on silverware before the campaign is done.

"It will be the perfect end to the season," Mourinho said. "A difficult season, lots of matches, trying to build a team, trying to recover a certain mentality, trying to finish the season playing a European final.

"It will be the perfect finale for Manchester United."

Mourinho added that reaching the final would also be a good way for striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic to end his season and, possibly, his United career.

The 35-year-old, who is the club's leading scorer this season, is set to be honoured with a statue at the Friends Arena in his native Sweden where the final will be played.

"For Zlatan it would be fantastic to play the final in Stockholm, in his country. It would be beautiful," Mourinho added.