MX23RW : Sunday, August 16 15:33:22| >> :120:6438:6438:
Oct 24, 2019 at 5.55pm UK at Stadion Partizana (Beograd)
Attendance: 25,627
PartizanPartizan
0-1
Man UtdManchester United
FT(HT: 0-1)
Martial (43' pen.)

Partizan coach Milosevic confident no racism will blight Manchester United game

Partizan coach Milosevic confident no racism will blight Manchester United game
© Reuters
The Serbian side were ordered to play their last two UEFA competition home matches behind closed doors.

Partizan Belgrade head coach Savo Milosevic is confident the Europa League match against Manchester United will be a "celebration of football" after the hosts completed a two-match stadium sanction for racist behaviour.

The Serbian side were ordered to play their last two UEFA competition home matches behind closed doors due to "the racist behaviour of its supporters" in the third qualifying round match against Yeni Malatyaspor of Turkey.

The second of those games against AZ Alkmaar last month was allowed to be played in front of children under the age of 14 and a full house is expected at Partizan Stadium on Thursday after the ban was served.

Former Aston Villa striker Milosevic urged Partizan fans to behave over the weekend and is hopeful that no issues will rear their head when United visit.

"First of all, I expect everything to be fair and in the spirit of the sport," he said.

"We know of our supporters, we are aware of the importance of the game and we are also aware of the problems we have had in the past.

"But tomorrow will once again be a celebration of football, so I don't expect any problems in that regard.

Milosevic Savo
Former Aston Villa striker Milosevic Savo is hopeful there will be no issues when United visit (Barry Batchelor/PA)

"We all know how important the support from the home fans can be."

Thursday's match comes fresh from UEFA hitting the Football Association of Serbia with a two-match ban on spectators, the second of which is suspended for a 12-month probationary period, for racism in September's 4-2 defeat by Portugal in Belgrade.

Marcus Rashford and Harry Maguire were on the field when sickening racist marred last week's Euro 2020 qualifier in Bulgaria, with this the United duo's first away match since that night of shame in Sofia.

United head into Thursday's Group L encounter buoyed by their display in the 1-1 Premier League draw with table-topping Liverpool and Milosevic believes they will soon be back fighting at the top.

"It's impossible for one club to be always on the top level," the former Villa striker said.

"In my epoch, Manchester was one of the best teams in the world with Sir Alex Ferguson. They practically won everything possible and it's difficult to stay on that level always.

"But Manchester United is definitely in the top three biggest clubs in the world even today.

"They have some difficulties, but it is also normal to have these difficulties, especially after the epoch of one man who was there for more than 30 years. It's difficult to find someone similar.

"These problems, for me, are normal and natural, logically.

"But nevertheless, it's still one of the biggest teams in England, in Europe and they definitely possess quality and I am certain that in the future, all of Europe will see how good they are.

"They have some extraordinary young players and it's a question of time for them to become key players and to lead Manchester forward."

Milosevic believes Partizan also boast some exciting young talents and hopes they can impress Ferguson, who the former striker knows from working with him as part of UEFA's technical observers group for Euro 2016.

Sir Alex Ferguson
Sir Alex Ferguson will be in Belgrade this week (Martin Rickett/PA)

"It will be an honour and a privilege for him to be here tomorrow and I am honoured to say that I have in the past worked with Sir Alex Ferguson," he added.

"These are some of my favourite football memories.

"With respect to what he will be seeing in Belgrade, there are plenty of things to see.

"But as (with) all Scotsman, I would recommend him to just go find himself a good drop of alcohol maybe."

ID:375952:

Click here for more stories about Savo Milosevic

Click here for more stories about Manchester United

Share this article now:
Did you know...?
David de Gea in action for Spain on October 15, 2019
Read Next:
David de Gea, Paul Pogba miss Manchester United training
>
Latest Sports Video
Sports Mole Logo
Enter your email address to subscribe to Sports Mole's free daily transfer newsletter! Sent twice a day during the transfer window.

rhs 2.0
Europa League
Scottish Premiership
Belgian Pro League
Norwegian Eliteserien
Swedish Allsvenskan
Finnish Veikkausliiga
League of Ireland Premier
Segunda Division
Serie B
Major League Soccer
Brasileiro
Uruguayan Primera Division
Liga MX
Chinese Super League
J1 League
Gallagher Premiership
Super League
Tables
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
CLiverpool393333883454102
2Manchester CityMan City382639102356781
3Manchester UnitedMan Utd391912867363169
4Chelsea392061369571266
5Leicester CityLeicester391881367422562
6Tottenham HotspurSpurs3917111163481562
7Wolverhampton WanderersWolves381514951401159
8Sheffield UnitedSheff Utd401512134342157
9Arsenal391414115750756
10Southampton39167165461-755
11Burnley38159144350-754
12Everton381310154456-1249
13Newcastle UnitedNewcastle391111173961-2244
14Crystal Palace381110173150-1943
15Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton38914153954-1541
16West Ham UnitedWest Ham38109194962-1339
17Aston Villa3898214167-2635
RBournemouth3897224065-2534
RWatford38810203664-2834
RNorwich CityNorwich3856272675-4921

Subscribe to our Newsletter


Transfer Talk Daily
Match previews - twice weekly
Morning Briefing (7am UTC)
Ultra close-up image of Kevin De Bruyne [NOT FOR USE IN ARTICLES]Get the latest transfer news, match previews and news direct to your inbox!