José Mourinho wants ManU's Europa League tie against Russian Premier League side Rostov on Thursday "to be postponed after condemning the state of the pitch at the Olimp-2 Stadium," according to James Ducker of the London TELEGRAPH. The ManU manager questioned how the first leg of the last-16 tie can go ahead after "likening the playing surface to the shambolic pitch at the Bird's Nest in Beijing last summer" that forced the cancellation of the club's preseason tour game against Man City. Mourinho "raised his fears about exposing his players to a heightened risk of injury" to a UEFA official, only to be told that his squad is insured "so if something happens, no problem." Mourinho said, "It's still hard for me to believe we are going to play tomorrow. I know we have to, but it is hard for me to believe we are going to play tomorrow in that field -- if you can call it a field." A UEFA statement said, "A pitch inspection has been carried out by the match officials on Wednesday. The playing surface may not be in perfect condition, but has been deemed playable. The match will go ahead as scheduled" (TELEGRAPH, 3/8).