Juan Mata has set his sights on this season's Europa League title.

The Spanish midfielder won Europe's second tier competition with Chelsea in 2013 and now has plans to hold aloft the silverware with Manchester United.

The Red Devils sit fifth on the Premier League table following Saturday's 2-1 loss at Sunderland and may need the Europa League to see them back into the Champions League fold, something Mata yearns for.

"I understand this is not the best possible situation," Mata wrote on his blog ahead of Thursday's Round of 32 first leg with FC Midtyjlland in Denmark.

"But it is what it is, and our goal is to keep advancing so we can have the chance to lift this trophy, which would come with a double reward.

"My personal experience tells me that if we work for it with excitement it could be a positive way to finish the season, as I lived three seasons ago [with Chelsea].

"At the moment we face Midtjylland, the current champions of Denmark, now third in their league. Step by step."