Mourinho happy despite draw
OPTIONS OPEN United manager sees Europa success as a route to next year’s Champions League
United manager Jose Mourinho is hopeful the obstacle of a trip to Chelsea in the FA Cup does not hinder his side’s prospects of completing a Europa League last-16 win over Rostov.
United drew 1-1 in Russia in the first leg of their tie on Thursday after Henrikh Mkhitaryan’s firsthalf opener was cancelled out by an Aleksandr Bukharov strike shortly after the break.
It was a good result after a long trip for a match played on a shocking surface at the Olimp 2 stadium — so bad that Mourinho had questioned whether the match should have gone ahead at all. United host Rostov in the return at Old Trafford next Thursday but before that they go to Chelsea in the FA Cup quarterfinals on Monday, meaning the Portuguese will have to adequately manage his squad to avoid fatigue. And he acknowledged the importance of the Europa League as a potential route into next season’s Champions League for a team currently sitting sixth in the Premier League.
“We want to keep the two goals open. In the Europa League, if you manage to go to the quarter finals, then in the quarter finals, you feel it so we have to try by every means,” said Mourinho, whose side have already won the English League Cup this season.
“We have a trophy in our pocket which is always a good thing, a good feeling for everyone. But now we have the Premier league to try to be in the top four, we have the Europa League to try to beat Rostov, and on Monday we cannot go with a bad team.
“Manchester United is too big. It’s not Chelsea’s fault that we’ll play on Monday. So we have to make changes, for sure, but we cannot go to Stamford Bridge with a bad team.”
Of the game in Rostov, the former Chelsea manager admitted disappointment at his side’s inability to hold their lead but hinted that the outcome still suited him. “You know, an away goal is always positive. It’s better 1-1 than 0-0 but the game is open,” said Mourinho, who won the UEFA Cup with Porto in 2003.
the pitch between Rostov and Manchester. Off it, it was all-square as dire predictions of bloody battles between Russian and English fans, reprising their violent clashes from Euro 2016, proved unfounded.
that a top Russian football official — and member of parliament — demanded hooliganism be recognised as a sport, with teams of 20 thugs per side, and which saw Manchester United fans told to hide their colours in the Russian city, peace broke out.
fault that we were given this Monday match, so we have to make changes for sure...But we cannot go to Stamford Bridge with a Nicky Butt team.” On Chelsea match
was magnificent. People were nice to us since we landed. During the game, they supported their team but they did it like it should be done. I think our supporters also were nice guests and they behaved properly." On fans’ behaviour during the match
United fans made the 3,000km trip to the Russian city but they were happy with the reception they got.
very helpful. I got on a bus from the airport and people were trying to help me, to tell me where to go. I had a look around the city — very nice," United fan Tony
Alli said.
will not field a weakened team when they travel to Stamford Bridge for Monday's FA Cup quarterfinal against Chelsea despite their congested schedule.
he would rotate his squad for the Chelsea clash but not fill it with youngsters from interim under-23 manager Nicky Butt’s team.
not won at Stamford Bridge since 2012, were beaten 4-0 on their last visit to Chelsea in October, Mourinho’s first visit to his former club since he moved to Old Trafford at the start of the season.
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