Manchester United manager, Jose Mourinho, has described the artificial pitch in Bern as a “huge advantage” for Young Boys, as they prepare to kick off their Champions League Group H campaign on Wednesday night.
He, however, urged his players to follow Roger Federer’s example and prove they can win, even when they aren’t playing on grass.
“I don’t want to use that as a possible excuse for a not very good performance, especially before the match.
“I can give as an example, we are in Switzerland, the home of one of the best ever tennis players, and I’m pretty sure that the big man sometimes is not happy to play on such a surface.
“But he has to play and has to win. He has a favourite surface but he has to win on the surfaces he is not in love with. We have to do it.
“We decide not to play Antonio Valencia because his knee is not a knee that needs an artificial pitch at all. We need to protect his clinical situation. Apart from that, we go with everything we have and have to try and win,” Mourinho said.
He, however, urged his players to follow Roger Federer’s example and prove they can win, even when they aren’t playing on grass.
“I don’t want to use that as a possible excuse for a not very good performance, especially before the match.
“I can give as an example, we are in Switzerland, the home of one of the best ever tennis players, and I’m pretty sure that the big man sometimes is not happy to play on such a surface.
“But he has to play and has to win. He has a favourite surface but he has to win on the surfaces he is not in love with. We have to do it.
“We decide not to play Antonio Valencia because his knee is not a knee that needs an artificial pitch at all. We need to protect his clinical situation. Apart from that, we go with everything we have and have to try and win,” Mourinho said.