Manchester United captain Wayne Rooney says they're taking the Europa League seriously.

Rooney accepts finishing in the top four of the Barclays Premier League now looks to be a difficult task, but he is urging his side to look ahead to Thursday's away trip to FC Midtjylland.

"It will be difficult to qualify for the Champions League and the top four now, we know that, so it's a sad day in terms of losing three points and we have to somehow move on," Rooney said.

"You don't know how this Premier League works right now, but we know it will be difficult to finish in the top four and [winning] the Europa League might be the best chance [of qualifying for the Champions League], but that is a long way away.

"It's a competition we didn't necessarily want to be in, but we are and we want to win it. Every game is a big game for us and we have to start again on Thursday."