Jose slams pitch for Europa game
Coach Jose Mourinho slammed the state of the Rostov pitch on Wednesday ahead of Manchester United’s Europa League tie in Russia, questioning whether the game should go ahead.
“It’s still hard for me to believe that we are going to play,” Mourinho said at a press conference in Rostov ahead of Thursday’s last 16, first leg.
“I know that we have to, but it is hard for me to believe we are going to play on that field -- if you can call it a field.”
Mourinho compared the pitted and damaged Olimp-2 stadium pitch in Rostov to the surface at Beijing’s Bird’s Nest Olympic Stadium where Manchester United and City refused to play a pre-season friendly last year. “On a very similar pitch in the summer in China, me and Manchester City decided not to play, but it looks like we have to play.”
CHAPECOENSE SAVOUR WIN ON RETURN
Brazilian football team Chapecoense on Wednesday promised more surprises after an emotional 2-1 victory in their first international match since a plane crash wiped out their squad. The side’s new team, rebuilt with 22 new signings since last November’s crash, surprised the crowds with their quality in beating Zulia FC of Venezuela in the Copa Libertadores on Tuesday night.
The side had to rebuild virtually from scratch after the crash killed 19 of their players and staff in November, turning a fairytale rise into a nightmare.
ENGLISH FOOTBALLERS TOO EXPENSIVE: PEP
Manchester City head coach Pep Guardiola feels English footballers are too expensive.
“I would like to have English players, believe me, but they are so expensive,” the Spaniard was quoted as saying by BBC. “I would like to play with English players , but sometimes it is not possible.”
The five England players in City’s first-team squad are John Stones, Raheem Sterling, Fabian Delph, 19-year-old defender Tosin Adarabioyo and reserve goalkeeper Angus Gunn.