The Portuguese boss admitted that Europe's second tier competition is not where United want to be, but that they want to aim to win the only major trophy missing from the club's glittering collection.
"It's not the big dream of every player but we are not in the Champions League so we have to look at it with respect.
"I think we should aim to do well in the competition and for a club of our size and dimension to do well is not to be out in the group phase.
"We want to win the tournament, tomorrow is an important match for us and we must find that motivation for every competition we are in" said Mourinho.
The boss has shuffled his pack and looks set to utilise his options at the De Kuip Stadium, with captain Wayne Rooney, Luke Shaw, Antonio Valencia and Jesse Lingard among those left at home.
Marcus Rashford is likely to make a first start of the campaign while Michael Carrick, Memphis and Marcos Rojo are among those in contention to come in for the much changed Reds.
"I think it is better to tell the players they are not coming but we are only talking about Wayne Rooney, also Antonio Valencia and Luke Shaw did not travel with the team.
"They are strong positions where I have other solutions, fresh players for this game and keeping players for our league match away on Sunday" added the boss.
This is only the third ever meeting between the two sides and United face an in-form Feyenoord who have won their first five league matches of the season having finished third in the Eredivisie last time out.
In his first season in charge in 2015/16, former Arsenal full-back Gio Van Bronckhorst led the Rotterdam outfit to silverware in the domestic cup as well as that top three finish.
Feyenoord's squad is full of experience and boasts a number of familiar faces with their captain- former Liverpool man Dirk Kuyt- top scorer last season with 23 goals.
Goalkeeper Brad Jones, a team mate of Kuyt's at Anfield, joined the club in the summer and ex Southampton loanee Eljero Elia is also among the home side's alumni.
Form guide: Feyenoord W W W W United W W W L
Match odds: Feyenoord 31/10 Draw 8/5 United 5/6
Referee: Jesus Gil Manzano (Esp)
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