Opinion | It never rains but it pours: Manchester derby cancelled, but more games expected as Chinese ambitions grow
Torrential rain scuppers first meeting between the rivals on foreign soil in the history of the 135-year-old rivalry, but the fact that the fixture was even scheduled is sign of things to come on mainland
It’s fitting that torrential rain in Beijing put paid to Manchester United against Manchester City at the National Stadium on Monday evening.
As unaccustomed as the clubs are to meeting in China – it was to be the first derby in the history of the 135-year-old rivalry to be played on foreign soil – they will at least have been comfortable with the weather.
If that wasn’t odd enough, one of them was diverted to nearby Tianjin because the plane was unable to land in Beijing. That meant half the players were late to the team hotel, but that wasn’t even the worst of United’s China tour.
Mourinho had to brief reporters at the side of the pitch in Beijing because the press conference room was 40 degrees Celsius and overcrowded with members of the media, many of whom were wearing United. Welcome to China.
