12 on bench, five substitutes allowed - Jose on new squad rules in UEFA Europa League

UEFA will permit 12 substitutes to be named in European competition this season, with five substitutions allowed during the game.

UEFA's Executive Committee made the decision in September, and it means Jose Mourinho will have plenty of options from the bench when we take on Austrian side LASK in Matchday One of Group J on Thursday night (8pm UK).

Jose said: “The Europa League have given us this opportunity of 12 players on the bench, so, easy for me, everyone is selected, easy for the players, they all feel involved and easy for me to manage the game.

“Five changes can be made and we have one replacement per position, so, one right-back, one left-back, everything available on the bench. Players like Gio Lo Celso, for example, coming back from injury, can be involved.

“You have five changes, so you can manage the game in a different way. You can make early changes if you want, because you still have another four to make.

“It brings something good to the game, to coaches, to players, to fans, for the feeling of the group, for the direction you want to give to matches. I think it’s a very good thing.”