Relief for Jose Mourinho as Man United dig out draw

Rostov 1 Man United 1: Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho is relieved to be leaving Russia with an away goal and fully-fit squad after a tough Europa League clash on Rostov’s quagmire pitch.

The last-16 first leg in southern Russia last night proved a predictably difficult assignment, but United coped manfully on the sandy, rock-solid playing surface that infuriated the Portuguese in the build-up.

Uefa deemed the surface playable and, fortunately for European football’s governing body and Mourinho, United make the 1,875-mile journey home unscathed.