Friday 10 March 2017 11:24, UK
We pick out five talking points from Manchester United's 1-1 draw with Rostov in their Europa League last-16 tie at the Olimp-2 stadium in Russia.
Henrikh Mkhitaryan put Jose Mourinho's side ahead with a close-range finish from Zlatan Ibrahimovic's cut-back in the first half, with Aleksandr Bukharov equalising for the hosts after the break.
From the problematic playing surface to Mourinho's strong team selection, we pick out five talking points from the game.
The state of the pitch at the Olimp-2 stadium was the biggest talking point surrounding the game, with Mourinho comparing the patchy surface to a field and complaining to UEFA in the build-up to kick-off. When the action got underway, it soon became clear why the Manchester United manager was so concerned.
The ball bobbled off the turf from the first minute, making it nearly impossible to string more than a couple of passes together. United opted for a direct approach instead, registering a passing accuracy of just 61 per cent - by far their lowest of the season. They attempted 87 long passes in total. To put that in context, they average 62 per game in the Premier League.
It made for an ugly spectacle, but Manchester United had little choice but to adapt to the difficult circumstances, and they came away with a positive result. What's more, despite some worrying moments, they also avoided any injuries. "It was impossible to play better," said Mourinho. "We played what the game demanded."
Three-at-the-back has been all the rage in the Premier League this season thanks to Antonio Conte's Chelsea, but this was the first time Mourinho has adopted the approach at Manchester United. Phil Jones, Chris Smalling and Marcos Rojo were flanked by wing-backs Ashley Young and Daley Blind, who dropped back to create a back five when Rostov came forward.
The tactic worked well. Manchester United momentarily switched off for Bukharov's equaliser, but Rostov were generally restricted to half chances. United will undoubtedly return to a more offensive set-up in the return leg, but Mourinho can look to the future knowing his team is capable of adjusting to a three-man defence.
If there was one player who benefitted from United's direct approach, it was Marouane Fellaini. On only his seventh start since November, the Belgium international embraced the physical battle, providing an aerial target for United's long balls and ranking first for headers won.
His most notable contribution, however, came in the build-up to the goal, when he expertly controlled a raking pass from Jones on his chest before feeding Ibrahimovic to cross for Mkhitaryan. He almost set up a late winner, too, heading the ball down to substitute Anthony Martial, who could not connect with his shot.
Mkhitaryan's performance was another positive for Mourinho. The Armenia international was ruled out of the EFL Cup final after suffering a hamstring injury against St Etienne last month, but he looked typically lively against Rostov as he returned to the side as a supporting striker for Ibrahimovic.
He combined well with the Swede, losing his marker at exactly the right time to dispatch the opener. He has now scored four times in his last seven appearances. It's his best run of form since joining the club in the summer. With Manchester United challenging on three fronts in the remaining months of the season, he is likely to be a key figure.
Mourinho named a strong team and it's easy to understand why. Not only is the Europa League another trophy-winning opportunity, it also provides a potential route into next year's Champions League. And with United facing a battle for a top-four finish in the Premier League, winning it could be their best hope of qualifying.
Their chances are even better when you consider the field. Last season's last-16 included Borussia Dortmund, Sevilla, Liverpool and Tottenham. This year, United's strongest rivals appear to be Roma and Lyon, who are facing each other for a place in the last eight. There is a long way to go for United, but there are plenty of reasons to believe.
