Sir Alex Ferguson insists he is taking the Europa League seriously ahead of Manchester United's trip to Ajax on Thursday evening.

It was a huge disappointment for the club when they dropped out of the Champions League in December, but Ferguson is now challenging his players to go all the way in a competition they have never won.

Ajax are one of only three clubs to have won all three major European trophies, the others being Juventus and Bayern Munich, and Ferguson wants his side to join that elite club this season.

United are 7.00 to win the tournament, while Ajax can be backed at 51.00.

"It would be a significant achievement," said the United boss. "Winning any European trophy is significant.

"Irrespective of those who have won the three trophies before it is important for us, with our own history, to win tournaments all the time."

United will be without Ryan Giggs and Dimitar Berbatov, who are both injured, while Patrice Evra has also not travelled, but Nani and Phil Jones are in the squad after recovering from knocks.

Ferguson's side are 8.50 to win 2-1, with Wayne Rooney at 5.00 to score first. They are 2.75 to keep a clean sheet against the Dutch giants.

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