Jose Mourinho admits he faces a “really complicated” fixture pile-up ahead of Manchester United’s League Cup final against Saints.

Claude Puel’s squad today reconvene at Staplewood after being given four days off to rest and relax with their families before tomorrow jetting off for a training camp in Spain. The players return to England early next week to finish off their Wembley preparations on home soil.

Mourinho, on the other hand, has three games to navigate before the Wembley final, starting tonight against St Etienne in the Europa League.

United then take on Blackburn in the FA Cup on Sunday before the return European trip to France next Wednesday. That then gives them just three clear days off before the final.

Mourinho has described the situation as a “nonsense”, and was on fighting form again when facing the media.

He said: "We cannot choose competitions at Manchester United.

"We know our situation is really complicated.

"The Europa League is a competition where we play on Thursdays and that makes it even more difficult for us.

"With the accumulation of FA Cup, League Cup and match postponed it is really hard for us.

"If you progress in the competitions, we will be in trouble in April and May. But we cannot choose competitions so we play to win."

United have played 38 competitive games this season, including 25 in the Premier League, five in the EFL Cup and two in the FA Cup.

Tonight’s Europa League last-32 first leg tie at Old Trafford will be their seventh in this season's competition. That cup provides United with one of two possible routes into next season's Champions League.

United are sixth in the Premier League, two points behind fourth-placed Arsenal with 13 matches remaining.

Mourinho added: "We have two doors still open. But we are in the last 32 - not eight or four so there is a long way to go.

"There is also a long way to go in the Premier League."

Mourinho has previously said: “I think Southampton will have 15 days without football before the final and we are going to have in these 15 days two matches against St Etienne and the next round of the FA Cup so the calendar in the best country of world football is nonsense.

“In a realistic way I think the Premier League is almost an impossible mission but I just think about winning the next match and the next match is not an impossible mission.

“In the League Cup we have a 50 per cent chance of winning it. In the FA Cup we are in the last 16. In the Europa League we are in the last 32, so lots of matches to play.”

Mourinho will be looking to try and keep a few players fresh for the final, and has overlooked Saints academy product Luke Shaw for a fourth successive match, raising fresh questions over the Manchester United left-back's future.

A double leg break brought last season to a premature - and horrific - end for the 21-year-old, who has struggled to make his mark under Mourinho.

Niggling injuries on the comeback trail have disrupted his campaign but, despite being fit since mid-January, Shaw has made just one appearance against Wigan in the FA Cup fourth round.

The left-back was not involved in the subsequent three squads and Mourinho confirmed the England international will not feature tonight.

"He's not playing," Mourinho said. "Because my team is playing well and I am happy with my back four, and I'm going to repeat (Antonio) Valencia, (Eric) Bailly, (Chris) Smalling, (Daley) Blind."

The Portuguese has decided against risking Michael Carrick and captain Wayne Rooney, confirming the duo would be reduced to a watching brief along with the injured Phil Jones.

"Phil is still recovering from the injury," Mourinho said. "Wayne and Carrick I don't want to say 'injuries' because I don't think we are speaking about injuries.

"We are speaking about little muscular problems and protection of these problems "So all three are out and apart from that everything is right."