United warned over state of Rostov pitch
YOUNG STRIKER COULD GET NOD TO FILL HOLE LEFT BY IBRA
UNITED have been told to prepare for a ‘problem pitch’ when they line-up against FC Rostov tomorrow.
United face the Russian Premier League side in the first leg of their Europa League last-16 clash.
But Jose Mourinho and his team have been told they face a tough playing surface at the 16,000capacity Olimp-2 Stadium.
“The pitch is the same for everyone but it will still be a problem,” said Rostov manager Ivan Daniliants.
“In the final of the League Cup, Man United played on an ideal lawn – it was like a carpet. When they arrive here, they will be surprised.”
Rostov last played a home game on February 16, when they beat Sparta Prague 4-0 in the Europa League last-32 to set up a tie with United. The Russians, who sit seventh in their league, have already beaten Ajax and Bayern Munich at home in the Champions League this season.
Atletico Madrid are the only team to win at Olimp-2 during the campaign.
United have already had their share of pitch issues. Mourinho described the surface at Ewood Park as ‘not the best’ ahead of the FA Cup fifth round clash with Blackburn last month. And in December, he slammed UEFA for organising a group stage game with Zorya Luhansk during Ukraine’s freezing winter.
ZLATAN Ibrahimovic was easily dispossessed, ponderous, fortunate not to be sent off and had a penalty saved on Saturday.
He has also netted 17 more goals than anyone else at United this season!
Jose Mourinho has three options to choose from to replace the Swede in his absence – Wayne Rooney, Marcus Rashford or Anthony Martial.
Martial’s only start as a centre forward this term was against Wigan in an anonymous 45 minutes. The waning Rooney has started up front on just four occasions this campaign. The most eminent opponents? Fenerbahce.
Asked to name his favourite position last week, Rashford replied: “No.9, for sure. It’s easier to get your shot off or get in and around the goals.” He was wasted on the right flank as a substitute against Bournemouth.
The 19-year-old’s chances of being the figurehead upfront have been limited by Ibrahimovic. Rashford has three goals in two FA Cup games against Championship clubs this season, but flunked his one chance in the league when Ibrahimovic was suspended against Arsenal. Mourinho moved Rashford to the left wing to accommodate substitute Rooney.
Rashford’s last league goal was on September 24 and his outstanding performances under Mourinho invariably off the bench - have come as a winger.
His only previous appearance against Chelsea, the first team Ibrahimovic is unable to face on Monday, was spent out wide, firstly on the left and then the right as Antonio Conte’s side dominated.
Rooney is a hindrance to the United first XI and it would be risible of Mourinho to restore a player who appeared to be exploring a Chinese Super League transfer against the champions elect.
Mourinho appears to distrust him as a striker against serious opposition. United need a nimble option against the catenaccio-coached trio of David Luiz, Gary Cahill and Cesar Azpilicueta. Luiz is a finer footballer than defender and it is to his credit he has derived discipline from Cahill, an unconvincing liability enjoying an Indian summer under the conscious Conte.
Tottenham defeated Chelsea in January with a narrow trio, with both goals provided by attacking midfielder Dele Alli. Rashford and Martial could be complemented by Henrikh Mkhitaryan, overlooked for the Stamford Bridge trip in October and now the fulcrum of Mourinho’s United.
A disadvantage of Ibrahimovic starting is his tendency to drop deep, depriving United of a figurehead. Rashford, like Harry Kane did two months ago, would need to stay high up the pitch to occupy the Chelsea defenders with his speed and energy.
Chelsea will have enjoyed another week without a game when they entertain United and it is paramount Rashford, overplayed in the first few months of the season and prone to cramp then, is as fresh as a daisy.
Ibrahimovic spurned a presentable chance with Chelsea just one up in October and Spurs preyed on Chelsea’s diminutive defenders on the right. Both of Alli’s headed goals came from crosses directed towards Azpilicueta’s vicinity, where he was left isolated by Victor Moses. Mourinho’s attacking axis for his first return to Chelsea - Ibrahimovic and Paul Pogba as the playmaker was too immobile and Rashford supplemented by Mkhitaryan and Martial on the flank would offer more fluidity. Conte has improved Moses, but his season could still be remembered as an anomaly and it would be remiss to remove Martial from the left wing. Marcos Alonso would also have the adventurous Antonio Valencia to contend with. Chelsea might not merit a third midfielder, since they depend on the Kante-Nemanja Matic pairing, which could see Juan Mata dovetail with Mkhitaryan in an attempt to penetrate the league’s meanest defence.
Mourinho appears to distrust Rooney as a striker against serious opposition
Samuel Luckhurst