Jose Mourinho was said to be ‘livid’ last night after accusing UEFA of brushing off his concerns that Manchester United players are at risk because of the state of the pitch here in south-west Russia.
Mourinho was fiercely critical of the playing surface at the Olimp-2 Stadium that will host tonight’s first-leg tie against Rostov.
He thought the venue should have been switched when the draw for the last 16 was made two weeks ago.
But when the United manager expressed his fears to a UEFA delegate that the hard, threadbare pitch increased the possibility of players being injured, he was stunned to be told simply that United are insured for such an eventuality.