The Courier & Advertiser (Perth and Perthshire Edition)
Mourinho unhappy to be playing on frozen surface
José Mourinho does not believe Uefa should make teams play on frozen pitches like the one in Ukraine where Manchester United’s Europa League fate will be sealed.
Zorya Luhansk are the opponents for United’s Group A finale today, when a point will secure progress to the last 32.
The Ukrainian side are already out of the competition but restricted United to a 1-0 win at Old Trafford.
The Chornomorets Stadium pitch is frozen in places and patchy in others.
United defender Daley Blind said it was “like a rock” when going out to train.
“The pitch is very hard, the pitch is very icy,” the United boss said.
“I think Uefa know the conditions of the pitch and everybody knows that in mid-December the conditions in Ukraine and Eastern Europe are more difficult.
“So if Uefa was worried about it, they should change the fixtures and not allow the last fixtures to be played in midDecember.
“If the fifth fixture is the last fixture here, it would be the end of November and not midDecember, so I think that’s the problem.
“I think the stadium is beautiful, it’s new, it’s well taken care of.
“The pitch is the same. They are trying, they are putting some warmth on the top of it, but the pitch is very difficult and people cannot make miracles.”
Michael Carrick, Antonio Valencia and Matteo Darmian have been rested for the clash against Zorya Luhansk.
Luke Shaw and Chris Smalling remain sidelined, but captain Wayne Rooney is back.