Jose Mourinho to risk Paul Pogba and Zlatan Ibrahimovic against Basel

Jose Mourinho is prepared to play Paul Pogba, Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Marcos Rojo against Basel in the Champions League on Wednesday night, despite concerns about the pitch at St Jakob-Park.

United will qualify for the Champions League knockout stage if CKSA Moscow fail to beat Benfica earlier in the day and Mourinho’s side can guarantee top spot in Group A with a point.

But the pitch in Basel has raised some concerns after it had to be re-laid following Switzerland’s World Cup play-off against Northern Ireland 10 days ago, when it cut up badly after heavy rain and was branded a “disgrace” and “unacceptable” by Northern Ireland’s players.

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Basel beat Sion 5-1 on the newly-laid surface on Saturday and Raphael Wicky, their coach, and defender Manuel Akanji have moved to reassure Mourinho that it is better than it looks, despite the odd funny bounce.

Mourinho said he was prepared to take Wicky’s word for it and that the pitch would not deter him from starting with Pogba, or playing Ibrahimovic or Rojo, even though the trio have all just returned from serious injuries and he would not know until the game was underway whether the surface was an issue.

Mourinho has encountered pitch problems in Beijing, Odessa and Rostov since taking over as United manager but said the St Jakob-Park surface was far better than that which his team had to play on in Rostov last season.

“I have to believe in this moment, and I am more comfortable, in the [Basel] manager’s experience and in his vision, so in this moment I am much more comfortable than I was before,” Mourinho said. “Last season we had to cope with Rostov, and I don’t think it’s comparable, so hopefully everything goes well.

“I gave it a look but honestly I don’t know. I want to see after 20 minutes. At this moment it looks okay but let’s see after 20 minutes. But at least I respect the effort of trying to make a positive pitch after it being so bad in the play-offs in the national team.

“I think that the intention, the effort, of changing to give a pitch for a Champions League match is very respectful and if the manager says that he knows better than me. He had the match here, he saw the reaction of the pitch, he has the comments of his players, your words are more important than mine.”

Wicky said: “I haven’t seen it since Saturday. It’s actually better than it looks. It might have some flaws in colour, but that doesn’t take away anything in function. Once the ball jumped up a little high but overall the pitch is good.”

Antonio Valencia, Ashley Young and Juan Mata have not travelled as Mourinho seeks to rest players after winning the first four group matches while the injured trio of Phil Jones, Eric Bailly and Michael Carrick were also left behind. Bailly could return against Brighton on Saturday.

Mourinho said Pogba would start but that Ibrahimovic would be on the bench again after his 13-minute cameo against Newcastle on Saturday following seven months out with cruciate ligament damage.

“Zlatan goes on the bench and he normally plays because he needs to play and because he's useful for us,” the United manager said. “If we are in a winning position like we were against Newcastle we need him on the pitch, he drops into areas where he gives stability to the team and keeps the ball.

“If the team is not winning his presence on the pitch will be important, positive, more aggressive to play with Lukaku. Normally he is going to play and will be a little bit more comfortable for him to play, so instead of 15, 22 or 25 minutes.”

Henrikh Mkhitaryan was dropped from the squad against Newcastle after a poor run of form but Mourinho said it was down to having more options in midfield and attack after the return of Pogba and Ibrahimovic.

“I think it’s a bit frustrating for me, the fact that there is always a question about some player who is not playing or not in the best of his form,” Mourinho said. “No questions about Martial, no questions about Chris Smalling, it’s always about players in a certain moment, match, period who didn’t play or was not my option.

“In some positions where you don't have injuries, you have options and in some positions you have injuries and don’t have options.

“I decided to play Rashford and Martial together, the question for many weeks was, ‘Why don't they play together?’. Now it's, 'Why isn't Mkhitaryan playing?’. The answer is very simple, until the international board change the rules I can only play 11.”