Audio By Carbonatix
Manchester United’s match with Manchester City on the pre-season tour of China has been cancelled due to bad weather and the state of the pitch.
The first clash between Jose Mourinho and Pep Guardiola in three years, after they took charge of United and City respectively this summer, will not go ahead in Beijing's Bird's Nest stadium following a day of rain in which the Portuguese’s side had to be diverted in their plane on the way to the capital and the manager had to conduct a press conference outside because the small media room was too packed.
A tweet on United's account read: "Due to recent weather events, tournament organisers & participating clubs have decided to cancel tonight's International Champions Cup game."
Mourinho had already taken aim at the pitch on Sunday, saying: "City against United for me is at Old Trafford or at the Etihad or even the cup final at Wembley. Not a friendly. Maybe with these conditions it’s a double friendly."
“I think Beijing is unlucky because the pitch is very bad. The condition of my players is more important than the results in pre-season. I have only one goal from tomorrow’s match, take the players home safe.”
Pitch problems
Due to recent weather events, tournament organisers & participating clubs have decided to cancel tonight's International Champions Cup game.
— Manchester United (@ManUtd) July 25, 2016
It was not only the rain that caused an issue for the pitch. It had also been affected by a fungus and various parts of it had been relaid with turf. There had been dozens of ground staff working relentlessly to solve the problem, to no avail.
Both teams have one pre-season match left, with City taking on Borussia Dortmund in the final International Champions Cup match at the Shanzhen Stadium on Thursday and United travelling to Gothenburg, Sweden, to take on Galatasaray on Saturday.
The Premier League season then kicks off when Guardiola's men take on Sunderland on Saturday, August 13 and United playing Bournemouth the day after.
-
Today's friendly with Manchester United has been cancelled. More: https://t.co/zmob4TVFTf #mcfc #cityontour pic.twitter.com/MJKq1zxGdn
— Manchester City (@ManCity) July 25, 2016
Follow Joy Sports on Twitter: @JoySportsGH. Our hashtag is #JoySports
Latest Stories
-
‘No cracks, no confusion’ – Fifi Kwetey shrugs off NDC rift claims over OSP bill
48 minutes -
We returned winners, not losers – Bryan Acheampong rewrites NPP’s electoral history
1 hour -
‘Barely in office, already talking power?’ – Fifi Kwetey slams early succession talk in NDC
1 hour -
‘Performance, not sympathy’ – Bryan Acheampong says NPP must break tradition
2 hours -
After all the branding, we lost 7 Regions – Bryan Acheampong says Bawumia can’t be repackaged
2 hours -
‘The product failed in the market’ – Bryan Acheampong tears into Bawumia’s 2024 numbers
2 hours -
‘I’m way ahead’ – Bryan Acheampong dismisses polls, predicts NPP primary victory
3 hours -
‘I will support whoever wins’ – Bryan Acheampong pledges loyalty to NPP flagbearer
3 hours -
‘We’ll come back stronger’ – Bryan Acheampong vows NPP revival after 2024 defeat
3 hours -
Ivory Coast miners start paying higher royalties after failed resistance, sources say
4 hours -
Nigeria’s House to look into row between regulator and Dangote over fuel imports, pricing
4 hours -
UK government considers advertising or subscription model for BBC
4 hours -
Morocco rolls out emergency aid during harsh winter weather
4 hours -
BBC declares it will fight Donald Trump’s defamation claim – but should it?
4 hours -
Second doctor sentenced in Matthew Perry overdose death
4 hours
