Mourinho hits out as United edge through

final 27 minutes at left wing-back and only a few very good saves from man-of-the-match Sergio Romero either side of Juan Mata scoring in the 70th minute prevented this banana skin of a tie from going to extra-time. On the subject of bananas, there was the curious sight of Mourinho handing Ashley Young, an unused substitute, a banana to give to Marcos Rojo to munch on during the second half but, for the manager, it was no laughing matter. Rojo, Mourinho said, was dead on his feet.

That episode and the loss of Paul Pogba two minutes into the second half with a hamstring injury prompted another angry assault on the authorities about a debilitating fixture list. “In the last part of the game we had problems and we had injuries,” said Mourinho, whose side had played for 65 minutes with 10 men during their 1-0 FA Cup quarter-final defeat at Chelsea on Monday. “It was a difficult game and we have lots of enemies. Normally the enemies should be Rostov but we have lots of enemies. It’s difficult to play Monday night with 10 men … we have to play again Sunday. We have lots of things going against us. Probably we lose on Sunday.

“Fatigue has a price. I will remember forever when I spoke to a Uefa delegate [in Rostov] and he told me if any of my players got injured there would be insurance to cover. For some it was a funny situation the banana story [with Rojo]. For me, I don’t think it’s funny. Pogba’s injury was an accumulation of fatigue. In England, [they think] he gets millions, so let him run, if he breaks, he breaks, don’t worry. It’s bad for us as all of the teams above us don’t have European football,