At 7.15pm – 45 minutes before kick-off – BT Sport host Gary Lineker revealed United players had not arrived at the ground. No reason was given for the players’ delay.
Lineker said on BT Sport: “The Manchester United players have not arrived yet. We will keep you updated if it’s a delayed kick-off.”
They then turned up just before 7.25pm to which Lineker updated viewers to say: “The good news is the Man United players and their manager have finally arrived, somewhat delayed.
“Whether that delays the kick-off we will find out very shortly.”
It then emerged that United HAD requested for the kick-off to be put back.
“It’s a pretty empty ground. That’s why they arrived very late,” Lineker added.
“They are looking to do a full warm-up so they have asked UEFA if they can delay the kick-off but that’s not official yet. We’ll wait and see so as soon as we know we’ll let you know.”
United then confirmed that in a statement which read: “Kick-off in tonight’s #UCL match at Old Trafford has been delayed until 20:05 BST due to significant traffic congestion in the Manchester area. #MUFC.”
MAN UTD v VALENCIA FACTFILE
Manchester United have lost only once in eight previous meetings with Valencia in all competitions (W2, D5), and never in the Champions League (P6, W2, D4), with this their first encounter in this competition since December 2010, a 1-1 draw at Old Trafford.
Manchester United have faced no other side in the Champions League more often than Valencia without ever losing (six games, level with Bayer Leverkusen and CSKA Moscow).
Valencia have only won once in 10 visits to English sides in the Champions League (D6, L3), securing a 1-0 win over Liverpool at Anfield in October 2002.
Manchester United have not lost back-toback home Champions League games since March 2013, when Alex Ferguson was in charge.
Manchester United have lost just one of their last 18 Champions League group stage games at Old Trafford (W12, D5), a 1-0 defeat to CFR Cluj in December 2012. They have won eight of their last nine since that defeat (D1).
Jose Mourinho has never lost to Valencia in 10 clashes in all competitions (W6, D4), including a 3-2 aggregate win in the 2006/07 Champions League quarter-finals while managing Chelsea.
Valencia have lost each of their last four Champions League games, their worst ever run in the competition.
Only two Spanish clubs have lost five or more consecutive games in the competition – Real Sociedad (five in 2013) and Villarreal (seven in 2011).
Valencia have drawn only one of their last 17 Champions League group stage games (W8, D1, L8), 1-1 against Bayern Munich in November 2012.
Paul Pogba scored as many goals in the first match of this season’s Champions League (2) as he had in his previous 37 Champions League games. Alexis Sanchez (left) has yet to score for United in the competition.
Pogba has been directly involved in four of Manchester United’s last six Champions League goals (two goals, two assists), including all three this season (two goals, one assist).
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