Jose Mourinho has slammed the state of the pitch ahead of the first leg of Manchester United’s last 16 Europa League clash with Rostov on Thursday.
The Red Devils flew out to Russia on Tuesday for what promises to be a tricky evening against a side who have already beaten Bayern Munich on their own patch this season.
Having looked at the surface at the Olimp-2, the Portuguese admits he has serious reservations about who he will select in his starting line-up.
Henrikh Mkhitaryan was expected to return for the clash but Mourinho has hinted that he may choose to omit the Armenian as he does not want to risk him following his recent hamstring injury.
United go into the game as the 2.80 favourites to win the tournament outright but will need to be at their best on Thursday for a match they are 1.80 to win, with the draw 3.60 and Rostov 5.00.
Mourinho’s side saw a pre-season friendly in China called off due to the condition of the field and says he does not see too much difference between that surface and the one on the banks of the Don.
“It’s still hard for me to believe we are going to play tomorrow,” said Mourinho.
“I know we have to, but it is hard for me to believe we are going to play tomorrow in that field – if you can call it a field.
“And I don’t know what team to play, really. I don’t know if Henrikh Mkhitaryan is going to play. “I don’t know.
I have now a lot to think because I was expecting something more playable in a very similar pitch in the summer in China we and Manchester City decided not to play, but it looks like we have to play.”
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