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Uefa make big call on Man United's Europa League clash: Jose Mourinho will not be happy
MANCHESTER UNITED’s Europa League clash with Rostov will go ahead despite the state of the pitch in Russia, UEFA have confirmed.
Manchester United face FC Rostov in the Europa League
Jose Mourinho is frustrated with the surface and described it as unplayable earlier today.
Manchester United travelled to Russia last night and will face Rostov tomorrow at 6pm.
And, despite Mourinho’s calls, the game will go ahead.
A statement from European football's governing body to Press Association Sport said: "A pitch inspection has been carried out by the match officials on Wednesday.
"The playing surface may not be in perfect condition, but has been deemed playable. The match will go ahead as scheduled."
Mourinho compared the pitch to the Bird's Nest quagmire that saw United's money-spinning pre-season friendly against Manchester City in Beijing called off last summer.
But United will have to play on this sandy, loose surface as UEFA has confirmed the last-16 first leg will go ahead as planned.
Jose Mourinho is angry with the state of the Rostov pitch ahead of the Man United clash
Jose Mourinho and his Manchester United players tried the pitch out this afternoon
Ander Herrera tried playing a pass on the surface in training today
Mourinho left club captain Wayne Rooney and Luke Shaw at home despite them both being involved against Bournemouth on Saturday.
And Marcus Rashford thinks the pressure is all on United.
"Whatever [competition] the club is in, we are expected to go far,” he said.
"And we as players put the pressure on ourselves to try to win the competitions. So for us that is what we have got in mind.
"We want to win the competition and whoever we have to play against, wherever we have to travel, we want to go there and win.
"Sometimes it is difficult but we have got a squad that is big enough and everyone is always ready to play, so it is just about recovering and trying to prepare for the game in the correct way.
"Coming up to this stage of the competition, we know that they have got quality to reach that stage, so there are things we have to be aware of.
"And I am sure the manager and the staff and the players will point them out and we will just prepare for it like we prepare for all the games and hopefully get through."
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