- Title: Mourinho criticises Rostov pitch ahead of United game
- Date: 8th March 2017
- Summary: ROSTOV-ON-DON, RUSSIA (MARCH 8, 2017) (REUTERS) ****WARNING CONTAINS FLASH PHOTOGRAPHY*** MANCHESTER UNITED MANAGER, JOSE MOURINHO, AT PRESS CONFERENCE REPORTER TAKING PHOTOS (SOUNDBITE) (English) MANCHESTER UNITED MANAGER, JOSE MOURINHO, SAYING: "It is still hard for me to believe that we are going to play tomorrow. I know that we have to, but it is hard for me to believe
- Embargoed: 22nd March 2017 14:29
- Keywords: Soccer Man United Jose Mourinho Zlatan Ibrahimovic Rostov Russia
- Location: ROSTOV-ON-DON, RUSSIA
- City: ROSTOV-ON-DON, RUSSIA
- Country: Russia
- Topics: Soccer,Sport
- Reuters ID: LVA001673MRLR
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: Manchester United's manager Jose Mourinho criticised the pitch at FC Rostov's Olimp-2 stadium on Wednesday (March 8), the day before his side's Europa League match with the Russian team.
"I know that we have to, but it is hard for me to believe that we are going to play tomorrow in that field - if you can call it a field," said United's manager.
Mourinho also declared he was uncertain about who would start for his team.
"I don't know which team to play, really. I don't know if (Henrikh) Mkhitaryan is going to play," he said.
However, the Portuguese coach did confirm his Swedish striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic is due to start the game ahead of a three match FA ban for elbowing Bournemouth's Tyrone Mings on Saturday (March 4).
Manchester United had to embark upon a 3,000 km journey to take on Rostov who have lost only once in their last seven European home games.
United are sixth in the league, three points adrift of the top four Champions League qualification spots but have already won the League Cup to secure a Europa League berth next season.
Winning the Europa League also comes with the bonus of Champions League qualification but Mourinho said his priority was for United to finish as high up in the Premier League table as possible.
The upcoming tie is the first meeting between Rostov and United in UEFA competition and also the Russian side's first ever match against an English club. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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