By Daily Sports on March 17, 2017

Manchester United have lots of enemies, manager Jose Mourinho said after they scraped past Russian side Rostov to reach the Europa League quarterfinals on Thursday.

The Portuguese did not say who the club’s enemies were but he was clearly angry that his team had to play at Chelsea in the FA Cup quarterfinals on Monday, then Rostov and must next visit Middlesbrough in the Premier League on Sunday.

“We have lots of enemies. Normally the enemies should be Rostov but we have a lot of enemies,” Mourinho said after a 1-0 win over the Russians sent United through 2-1 on aggregate.

“It’s difficult to play Monday with 10 men (after Ander Herrera was sent off at Chelsea), it’s difficult to play now, it’s difficult to play 12 o’clock on Sunday.

“A lot of people might say we should have scored more goals (against Rostov). But a lot of things are going against us. The boys are amazing boys. We will probably lose the game on Sunday. Fatigue has a price.”

Mourinho explained that Marcos Rojo ate a banana during the match because he was “at the limits.”

“The player asks for a banana. It is not to laugh at all. It is to respect the players and their limits, they give everything.”

He admitted the United were “afraid” of extra time.

“They (Rostov) are fresh, they had a winter break, they had winter pre-season, they play one match per week, they played against Terek Grozny Sunday afternoon, we played Chelsea Monday night,” he said.

“If the game goes to extra time it would be an advantage for them because my players were at the limits. In the first half, we were much better and we should be winning but we weren't and then the game was open until the end.”

He added: “I will remember forever when I spoke to the Uefa delegate in Rostov. He told me if any of our players gets injured, the insurance pays. Whoever decided the Monday and Sunday games probably thinks the same way.”

Juan Mata had scored the only goal as Manchester United recorded an underwhelming 1-0 victory over FC Rostov on Thursday to reach the Europa League quarterfinals.

Mata struck 20 minutes from the end of a subdued game, completing a 2-1 aggregate win that sent United into the last eight of Europe’s second-tier club competition for the first time since 1985.

But victory came at the cost of an injury to world-record signing Paul Pogba, who left the fray with an apparent hamstring injury early in the second half at an unseasonably cold Old Trafford.

United manager Jose Mourinho said Pogba’s injury was due to “fatigue”.

Pogba departed in the 47th minute, Marouane Fellaini taking his place, and Rostov briefly threatened to take the upper hand, Sergio Romero saving from Sardar Azmoun and Christian Noboa.

United also lost Daley Blind after he took a bang to the head, which resulted in the curious sight of Phil Jones coming on as a jobbing left wing-back.

The hosts finally made the breakthrough in the 70th minute after Mata intercepted a loose pass in midfield and spread the ball wide to Mkhitaryan on the United right.

The Armenian’s low cross was back-heeled towards goal by Ibrahimovic and Mata charged in at the back post to slam home from close range.

Mourinho’s men are seeking to add the trophy to the League Cup they won last month and have the extra incentive of knowing it will yield a place in next season’s Champions League.

•Based on AFP reports. Photo shows Mourinho.

Source Daily Sports

Posted March 17, 2017

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