‘Zorya’s Pitch Is Like A Rock’- United Boss Mourinho Mocks Opponent Ahead Of Europa League Match

Jose Mourinho says Manchester United’s Europa League game at Zorya Luhansk should have been played earlier in the competition because of a pitch now described as “like a rock”.

Manchester United have to avoid defeat in Ukraine to progress to the last 32.

The match is set to go ahead following a pitch inspection at the Chornomorets Stadium on Thursday morning.

“The pitch is very hard, the pitch is very icy,” United boss Mourinho said after his players trained on Wednesday.

“They are putting warmth on the top of it, but the pitch is very difficult and people cannot make miracles. Let’s hope everything goes well.”

Even if they lose, Mourinho’s side will go through if Feyenoord fail to beat group leaders Fenerbahce in the other Group A game. Zorya have already been eliminated.

United, second in Group A, hold a two-point advantage over third-placed Feyenoord going into the final game, but a draw would be enough even if the Dutch side win because United have a superior head-to-head record.

Defender Daley Blind describing the pitch as being “like a rock” after the Premier League side trained at the Chornomorets Stadium on Wednesday.

Temperatures are expected to be around 1C in Odessa when the match kicks off at 20:00 local time (18:00 GMT).

“I think Uefa know the conditions of the pitch and everybody knows that in mid-December the conditions in Ukraine and Eastern Europe are more difficult,” said Mourinho.

“So if Uefa was worried about it, they should change the fixtures and not allow the last fixtures to be played there in mid-December.”