Dave Whelan 'honoured' to have Wigan Athletic in Europa League

Wigan Athletic chairman Dave Whelan has expressed his delight ahead of the club's first game in the Europa League this evening.

The Latics were awarded a place in the second-tiered European competition following their victory in the FA Cup final over former Premier League champions Manchester City last season.

Tonight, manager Owen Coyle will lead his side into a clash against Zulte Waregem in Belgium, who finished their league in second place.

"It's a great honour to be part of the European game. We've come a long way in the last 15 or 16 years from the old fourth division to be playing in Europe. It's fantastic," Whelan told BBC Radio Five Live. "It adds enormously to the prestige of the club. We've got to give a good performance and we've got to enjoy it.

"It's such a tough game when you're playing in Europe, you're playing some very good teams from across Europe and we're representing our country but we're up for it and we're very honoured and delighted to be doing this."

The match is Wigan's first European outing in their 81-year history.