Bitter-sweet Euro progress for Jose

JOSE Mourinho fears the worst after Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Marcos Rojo were forced off with serious-looking injuries as Manchester United reached the Europa League semi-finals.

Having so impressively dispatched of Premier League leaders Chelsea on Sunday, United were made to sweat by Anderlecht after Henrikh Mkhitaryan's early strike was cancelled out by an equaliser from skipper Sofiane Hanni.

The tie was eventually settled in extra-time by man-of-the-match Marcus Rashford as a breathless quarter-final second leg ended 2-1 at Old Trafford, seeing Mourinho's men through 3-2 on aggregate. But victory came at a cost as increasingly important defender Rojo left the field on a stretcher in the first half, before top scorer Ibrahimovic's knee buckled after landing awkwardly just before extra-time.

Asked about the condition of the pair, Mourinho said: "I want to wait, but my feeling is not good for both. I want to try to be optimistic, but I'm not."

Ibrahimovic was able to hobble off after the injury and Rojo told reporters he was "okay" while limping heavily through the post-match mixed zone.

The Argentina international, so impressive this term, is another blow to a defence already without Phil Jones and Chris Smalling.

Mourinho last week said the England centre-backs were out until mid-May, but suggested after the Anderlecht win that they need to be "brave".

"We have Daley Blind, and I think it is time for Jones and Smalling to be brave - to risk," the United boss said.