Reds’ fears over state of Rostov playing surface
JOSE MOURINHO was said to be ‘livid’ last night after accusing UEFA of brushing off his concerns that Manchester United players are at risk because of the state of the playing surface at the Olimp-2 Stadium which will host tonight’s first-leg tie against Rostov, here in south-west Russia.
Mourino thought the venue should have been switched when the draw for the last 16 was made two weeks ago.
But when the United manager expressed his fears to a UEFA delegate that the hard, threadbare pitch increased the possibility of players being injured, he was stunned to be told simply that United are insured for such an eventuality.
Privately, Mourinho is seething that his concerns have been dismissed out of hand by European football’s governing body. He was still bristling with indignation when he arrived for his pre-match press conference yesterday.
Mourinho compared the situation to United’s aborted pre-season friendly against Manchester City last July which was cancelled due to the state of the pitch at the Bird’s Nest Stadium in Beijing.
UEFA issued a statement last night confirming the game will go ahead, but Mourinho said: ‘It’s still hard for me to believe that we are going to play. I know we have to, but I find it hard to believe we are going to play on that field — if you can call it a field.
‘I just had a quick contact with a gentleman from UEFA when I was looking at the pitch. When I told him about my concerns, the gentleman just told me the players are insured — if something happens, no problem.’
Asked to describe the pitch, he added: ‘Beijing. On a very similar pitch in the summer, me and Manchester City decided not to play, but it looks like we have to play.’
Mourinho may now re-assess his team selection. Zlatan Ibrahimovic is likely to play before starting a three-match domestic ban, but Mourinho will have to decide whether to risk Henrikh Mkhitaryan, who was set to return after a hamstring injury, ahead of Monday’s FA Cup quarter-final at Chelsea. I don’t know which team to play, really,’ he added. ‘I have a lot to think about now — I was expecting it to be more playable.’
United defender Daley Blind said yesterday: ‘The pitch is not good, maybe for safety as well. But that’s not what you have in your mind.’
This is Rostov’s first home game since the Russian League resumed after its mid-winter break, although they beat Sparta Prague 4-0 in the last round of the Europa League here in mid-February.