[UCL] Manchester United 0-0 Valencia

[zudomiriku]

Police deny Jose Mourinho's claim that Manchester United were refused an escort to Old Trafford after bus was late AGAIN and kick-off delayed against Valencia

* Manchester United's team bus only arrived 45 minutes before kick-off
* Club blamed heavy traffic which led to Valencia clash being delayed five minutes
* Jose Mourinho said they were refused a police escort but a statement from Greater Manchester Police claims the club knew about the arrangement
* It is the third time United's bus has been late in recent years but first at home
* Club previously late when arriving for 2016 games at West Ham and Tottenham
* UEFA opened disciplinary proceedings against United on Wednesday over delay

Greater Manchester Police have denied Jose Mourinho's claim that Manchester United were refused an escort to the Valencia game and insisted that the club knew they would have to make their own way to Old Trafford.

United turned up late for their home Champions League fixture despite travelling just three miles from their team hotel.

Mourinho was furious that the journey from the Lowry took 75 minutes, setting off at 6pm and arriving at 7.15pm due to horrendous congestion, and said: 'We left the hotel at six o’clock hoping that 30 minutes would be enough, which it normally is, but this time the police refused to do an escort so we had to come by ourselves.'

But Chief Inspector Andy Sutcliffe, GMP’s Silver Commander for the Manchester United v Valencia fixture, said: 'All police deployments are carried out following a comprehensive risk assessment process and, specifically in respect of escort team buses, are only ever undertaken on occasions when there is intelligence or information to suggest a risk of threat or harm to the players.

'GMP has previously used police vehicles to accompany a team’s coach but after a review of our core policing responsibilities it was decided that we would no longer provide this service at every fixture.

'We consulted with the relevant football clubs over a period of months to allow them adequate time to plan ahead for their journeys to the stadium.

'Every fixture is assessed individually and we will continue to work with all clubs to provide an appropriate policing response.'



The kick-off was put back to 8.05pm as a result but the United players had little time to warm up for such an important game.

Mourinho said: 'We took 75 minutes. UEFA were nice, the referee was nice to allow us to start the game five minutes late because we at least need half an hour to be prepared.’

Valencia were staying more than six miles away at the Worsley Marriott but still managed to make it to the ground on time.

UEFA opened disciplinary proceedings against United on Wednesday over delay, citing a 'late team arrival' and 'late kick-off'.

Policy on police escorts was changed in the summer following new national guidance on the policing of football. As a result, police escorts are not routinely provided for the likes of footballers or pop stars.

United have twice before during Louis van Gaal's reign been late arriving for matches at West Ham United and Tottenham Hotspur.

But this is by far the most embarrassing for the club after they arrived late for their home game following a drive that should only take 12 minutes.

Typically, teams usually arrive around a flexible 90 minutes before matches but blaming heavy traffic around the Manchester area, the Red Devils only made their way into Old Trafford at around 7.15pm.

United were previously late in the final match at Upton Park in May 2016 where they went down 3-2 to West Ham, with their team bus attacked leading to a 45-minute delay in the kick-off.

That came just a month after they were also late at White Hart Lane for their Premier league fixture at Spurs where after a 30-minute delay they were thrashed 3-0 by Mauricio Pochettino's side.

The setback was the last thing under pressure boss Jose Mourinho needed as he hopes to end a winless run across three games following a draw at home to Wolves a shock League Cup exit by Derby County and a crushing loss at West Ham on Saturday.

The poor run of form also coincides with unhappiness in the United camp, with the likes of Paul Pogba, Anthony Martial and Alexis Sanchez all at loggerheads with the United boss.

The Red Devils though did go into the match with Valencia targeting consecutive Champions League wins having opened their campaign with a 3-0 win over Young Boys.

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-6232921/Manchester-United-team-bus-late-Champions-League-clash-Valencia.html