Mourinho relief after Reds draw

MANCHESTER United manager Jose Mourinho is relieved to be leaving Russia with an away goal and fully-fit squad after a tough Europa League clash on Rostov's quagmire pitch.

The last-16 first leg in southern Russia proved a predictably difficult assignment, but United coped manfully on the sandy, rock-solid playing surface that infuriated the Portuguese in the build-up.

UEFA deemed the surface playable and, fortunately for European football's governing body and Mourinho, United make the 1,875-mile journey home unscathed.

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They would have also gone back with a first-leg win was it not for Aleksandr Bukharov making it 1-1, although Henrikh Mkhitaryan's away goal could prove crucial in next week's return leg at Old Trafford.

"We go home with a positive result," Mourinho said at the Olimp-2 stadium.

"We know that it will be a difficult match, we know that we need to win or to have a 0-0 draw, so the game is open.

"The tie is open, but in these circumstances I think it was a positive result."

Meanwhile, Los Angeles Galaxy have had "conversations" with United striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic over a summer move, according to the Major League Soccer club's former general manager Alexi Lalas.