How to watch FC Rostov vs

The build-up to the match had been overshadowed by United’s complaints about the playing surface and about concerns travelling fans could be targeted by Russian hooligans. But they have never won the Europa League nor the old UEFA Cup. Rostov is a hard venue and both Bayern Munich and Ajax have lost there already this season.

Ibrahimovic will miss Monday’s FA Cup quarter-final at Chelsea as well as Premier League games against Middlesbrough and West Brom.

Unfortunately, if United thought the job was done there, they were badly mistaken.

Manager Jose Mourinho said: “It is a bad draw in every aspect”.

And no surprise to see that numerous United stars looked very jaded as they touched down in Manchester in the early hours of Friday morning.

Mourinho’s side will be back in league action on March 19 as it travels to Middlesbrough.

The Red Devils’ best chance of qualifying for Europe’s top competition in 2017-18 could be to win the Europa League, a tournament for which they are the favourites. Hopefully in one week’s time, we go to the quarter-final.

Mkhitaryan picked up a hamstring injury in his side’s 1-0 win over Saint-Etienne in the Europa League tie in February. “That gives you an idea of how tough they are”. Bastian Schweinsteiger has also been struggling with a muscle injury while Eric Bailly will be unavailable due to suspension.

Midfielder Mkhitaryan added: “The pitch was terrible”.

But Rostov, who beat Bayern Munich on the same ground in November on their way to a third-place finish in their Champions League group, levelled eight minutes after the restart.

Rostov showed no signs of rustiness in their first domestic match after the long winter break.

“The pitch is the same for everyone, but it will still be a problem”, he said.