The Reds were due to play City in the first Manchester derby to be played outside of the United Kingdom on Monday – but the weather conditions in China left the pitch unplayable and led to the match being called off.
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The cancelation of the friendly affair is due to bad weather conditions in Beijing and concern over the pitch.
Some of Mourinho’s players – the team took two flights from Shanghai – were forced to land in Tianjin on Saturday as a violent storm in Beijing made it impossible for their flight to land there.
“The conditions for the training session are not the best”, he said.
“We know our fans in China will, like the players and staff, be saddened by the cancellation of the match but I am sure they appreciate that the player safety has to be the top priority”. “It is nearly the end and we can go home and train in conditions where the players are safe”, he said.
Speaking to journalists in his press conference last night, Mourinho said, “City versus United for me is Old Trafford or the Etihad or a cup final at Wembley, not a friendly”.
“Manchester City have all of their players”.
“I just wish there are no problems in the match and everyone goes home without injuries”.
“I think Man City have all their players here, but we have six, seven or eight who stayed in Europe”.
Speaking about his plans, Mourinho insists he wants to train with his whole group for the Galatasaray, Everton and Leicester City games. “I don’t see why I wouldn’t shake his hand”.
When questioned about why the club has come to China, Mourinho said: “It’s good for the fans and for the commercial side of things”.
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“The organizers and both clubs regret that the game could not go on as scheduled and we would like to express our honest apology for the fans who have been paying close attention on the game”, the organizers said in a press release. We have managed teams against each other and we are very professional.
