The Europa League has taken on greater importance as United’s hopes of the gatecrashing the Premier League’s top four are stymied by an inability to climb beyond sixth in the table.
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The poor condition of the surface dominated the build-up to the match, with a furious Mourinho stating that it was “hard for me to believe that we are going to play on that field, if you can call it a field”.
“We’ll better the result this time next week”. We know we need to win or to have a 0-0 draw so the game is open, the tie is open.
However, United were able to gather themselves as the match moved on, with the defensive setup coping well as Rostov overloaded the area in search of a victor. “So we have to make changes, for sure, but we can not go to Stamford Bridge with a bad team”.
Despite getting the early breakthrough and dominating the possession stats, the Red Devils failed to create any meaningful chances after that and after switching off post the interval, paid the price as the home side equalised in the 53rd minute.
The charm offensive from Russia’s seventh-placed club had the 238 travelling fans furnished with blankets to keep warm on an evening in which a biting wind came in off the Don River. It is something I’ve never seen anywhere in the world.
‘It is not Chelsea’s fault that we were given this Monday match so after this we have to make changes for sure but we can’t go there with a Nicky Butt team’. “For us, it’s hard but we are one step from being in the quarter-finals”. Rostov captain Aleksandr Gatskan dished out one of them in the first half and was booked for his troubles, meaning he will miss the second leg.
Rostov coach Ivan Daniliants said defender Vladimir Granat was also out after breaking his collarbone.
The surface would have been familiar to Mkhitaryan from his days learning the game in Armenia.
“I think it worked very well”, he said.
Man United boss Jose Mourinho has hailed his “fighters” for registering an away draw in tough conditions in Russian Federation on Thursday.
“During the game, they supported their team but they did it like it should be done”.
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There would have undoubtedly been a few United supporters feeling apprehensive about following their team to Russian Federation but that kind act certainly would have made them feel more comfortable prior to kick off.
