United head to mother Russia
MANAGER MOURINHO NOT IMPRESSED
Favourites Manchester United were drawn yesterday to face faraway Russian outfit Rostov, who, unlike Jose Mourinho, were delighted with the Europa League last-16 tie.
Mourinho’s side beat French club St-Etienne 4-0 on aggregate in the last-32 and will now travel to Russia on Thursday, March 9 with the second leg in Manchester a week later on March 16.
Mourinho said this week he wanted to avoid a Russian club as United face Chelsea in the FA Cup in-between, but the draw was greeted with delight in Rostov.
“We reacted with joy on seeing the draw,” Rostov director Ali Uzdenov told R-Sport agency.
“The guys are ready to face any opponents, Man United especially,” he said.
“These matches will be the very special events for everyone in Rostov, not just the football fans.”
Italian side AS Roma, also among the competition favourites, drew French club Lyon.
There is also an all-German pairing as Schalke 04 take on Borussia Moenchengladbach, while two of the three remaining Belgian sides were also cast together as Genk drew Gent.
Anderlecht landed Cypriots Apoel as Greek champions Olympiakos play Turkey’s Besiktas.
Celta Vigo – La Liga’s sole remaining representative in the second-tier European competition – host another Russian outfit Krasnodar as Dutch giants Ajax travel to FC Copenhagen.