Manchester United’s Champions League group-stage match against Young Boys could be moved away from Old Trafford thanks to a new strain of coronavirus, the Omicron variant
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Michael Carrick Refutes Suggestion Ralf Rangnick Picked Man Utd Team At Chelsea
Ralf Rangnick may not take charge of his first ‘home’ Champions League match as interim Manchester United manager at Old Trafford.
The Red Devils are due to face Young Boys in Manchester on Wednesday, December 8, but the Swiss side may be unable to make the journey due to the new Omicron variant of Covid-19.
According to The Telegraph, UEFA are ‘urgently seeking’ clarity on whether United’s opponents would need a 10-day quarantine period once they return from the UK.
Therefore, Rangnick – who was appointed on Monday morning – could be forced to take his team to a neutral venue, as they bid to close out their group-stage campaign with by avenging their shock defeat in Bern on the opening matchday.
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On Saturday, the Swiss government imposed strict rules on travellers from the UK and other countries which have detected cases of the new strain.
Omicron forced Prime Minister Boris Johnson to call an emergency press conference over the weekend and notify the public of tighter guidelines and new restrictions.
UEFA’s current rules state that if Young Boys are not exempt from quarantining upon returning to Switzerland, then their match will be take place in a neutral country to avoid a knock-on.
A switch of venue could leave supporters who have committed non-refundable travel expenses unable to recoup their cash, while costing the Red Devils millions of pounds in ticket sales and hospitality revenue at Old Trafford.
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If a suitable solution cannot be found, the clubs could have to wait until 2022 to face one another, with United facing a packed fixture list in December.
There is a lack of exemption for those involved in elite sport when travelling to Switzerland from the UK, and it may also force England manager Gareth Southgate to miss the Nations League draw in Montreux next month.
In terms of Rangnick’s men, they have already finished top of Group F thanks to a 2-0 win at Villarreal in Michael Carrick ‘s first game as caretaker manager.
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Upon his announcement as interim boss, the acclaimed German coach said: “I am excited to be joining Manchester United and focused on making this a successful season for the club.
“The squad is full of talent and has a great balance of youth and experience. All my efforts for the next six months will be on helping these players fulfil their potential, both individually and, most importantly, as a team.
“Beyond that, I look forward to supporting the club’s longer-term goals on a consultancy basis.”
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