Midtylland seek a Europa 'miracle' against Manchester United

By Andrew Dickson

Chairman Rasmus Ankersen says FC Midtjylland are not going to Manchester as tourists - they intend to knock United out of Europe

FC Midtjylland hope to create "a bit of a miracle" at Old Trafford after their unexpected Europa League win against Manchester United last week.

The Danish champions have arrived in England defending a 2-1 lead from the first leg, the biggest result in their 17-year history.

Defending that advantage would give them an even bigger success to enjoy - and they believe the unthinkable is possible.

Image: Paul Onuachu's winner gives Midtylland a 2-1 lead to take into Thursday's game

Having beaten Southampton over two legs in the qualifiers earlier this season, the club, who formed in 1999 through a merger of Herning Fremad BK and Ikast FS, are seeking another Premier League scalp.

Midtjylland sporting director Claus Steinlein feel it will be "a bit of a miracle" to reach the last 16 but believes they can achieve it.

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Their head coach Jess Thorup agrees and said: "I think so. I don't know if the word miracle is right, but FC Midtjylland is 17 years old.

Image: Louis van Gaal (left) endured a torrid time in the first leg and now wants his players to be 'hungry and horny'

"They have achieved what they have achieved this year and now they play against Man United, which is maybe one of the clubs with bigger history, one of the biggest clubs.

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"If we manage to beat them over two games, I don't know if it is a miracle but it'll be a big achievement."

As a player, Thorup helped Odense beat Real Madrid at the Santiago Bernabeu in the 1994-95 UEFA Cup.

Image: Jess Thorup (right) believes it is possible for his Danish champions to reach the last 16 of the competition

Such a feat will be tough to replicate at Old Trafford, where Louis van Gaal has called for his players to be "hungry and horny" against the Danes.

"I just heard that in the car outside of the stadium," Thorup added. "We were laughing a bit about the word horny.

"I don't know what to say and, if (you) translate the word horny, I don't know what he means related to the game."

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