Manchester United's trip to Ukraine at risk of postponement

Manchester United's travel and training plans could be thrown into disarray by a possible postponement of its Europa League group-stage concluding tie at Zorya Luhansk on Thursday.

Jose Mourinho has expressed his displeasure at UEFA scheduling matches in the freezing conditions of eastern Ukraine at this time of year, as his ranks wobbled their way over a frozen pitch during Wednesday's preparations for a match which could confirm their route into the competition's last-32.

Mourinho will be hoping it's not a wasted journey, with the meeting demanding a four-hour flight each way.

"The pitch is very hard, the pitch is very icy," said the ex-Chelsea overseer, as quoted by ITV.

"Called off the game? I think UEFA know the conditions of the pitch and everybody knows that in mid-December the conditions in Ukraine and eastern Europe are more difficult.

"So if UEFA was worried about it, they should change the fixtures and not allow the last fixtures to be played in mid-December."

The Portuguese understands the match could be called off due to the conditions his squad has encountered at Zorya, with a pitch inspection is due for 10 a.m. local time (3 a.m. ET) Thursday, reports ESPN's Mark Ogden.

"They are trying, they are putting some warmth on the top of it, but the pitch is very difficult and people cannot make miracles," Mourinho remarked on the efforts of the grounds crew. "Let's hope everything goes well."

Just three days after the Luhansk tilt, United welcomes Tottenham Hotspur to Old Trafford.