Man Utd too slick for Young Boys but Man City slip up to Lyon

Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho said there were fears his players would suffer injuries on Young Boys’ artificial pitch.

Manchester United’s Paul Pogba scores a penalty during the UEFA Champions League Group H against Young Boys in Bern. Picture: AFP

Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho said there were fears his players would suffer injuries on Swiss side Young Boys’ artificial pitch in Bern and questioned UEFA’s willingness to accept such surfaces.

United won 3-0 in their Champions League Group H match and while upbeat about his team’s performance the Portuguese manager took aim at the pitch.

“Now I can say, I don’t understand how you can play the best club competition on an artificial pitch,” Mourinho said.

“You know, probably some fear injuries. It’s not easy, especially not for people who are not adapted to it. Also a little bit of a fear in the duels.”

Before the game, Mourinho had urged his team to follow the example of Swiss tennis great Roger Federer and show they were capable of winning on different surfaces. They accomplished that with a minimum of fuss.

“Job done. Not phenomenal but good enough,” Mourinho said.

France World Cup winner Paul Pogba scored two goals — a sublime left-footed finish in the 35th minute and a calmly drilled 44th-minute penalty — and provided the assist for compatriot Anthony Martial’s third.

“I felt Paul was a bit tired in the last part of the game but he was class,” Mourinho said. “He gave the team the pace we needed at times, keeping possession and keeping control of the tempo.”

Manchester City assistant manager Mikel Arteta admitted the English champions were handed a wake-up call in a 2-1 home defeat by Lyon to start their Champions League campaign.

Arteta took charge for the evening with Pep Guardiola serving a touchline ban for being sent-off in last season’s quarter-final exit to Liverpool.

Lyon punished a sloppy first 45 minutes from the pre-tournament favourites through Maxwel Cornet and Nabil Fekir.

Bernardo Silva pulled a goal back in an improved second-half performance, but couldn’t prevent City slumping to their first defeat of the season.

“When you are not at the races at the start of a game in the Champions League after, it doesn’t matter how good you are, it is too late,” said Arteta.

Juventus believe they can win the Champions League with Cristiano Ronaldo, but they had to start by beating Valencia without him after he was controversially sent off. A tearful Ronaldo left the pitch in disbelief in the 29th minute, having aimed a petulant, but seemingly harmless, kick at Valencia defender Jeison Murillo.

The Portuguese player then made contact with Murillo’s head while urging him to get up.

Miralem Pjanic scored twice from the penalty spot to clinch a comfortable 2-0 win for Juve.

Agencies