Manchester United suffer more travel chaos following Bristol City defeat as they arrive home at 5am after flight is cancelled... as it emerges boss Jose Mourinho signs off all transport plans

  • Manchester United were knocked out of the Carabao Cup on Wednesday night
  • Jose Mourinho and his players flew from Manchester on the day of the fixture
  • United's private jet was diverted to Cardiff due to heavy fog in the Bristol area
  • Mourinho and his staff do not believe the issue played a role in their 2-1 defeat
  • United's return flight to Manchester was delayed and did not land until 5am  

Manchester United suffered another travel nightmare after their Carabao Cup defeat by Bristol City as their flight home was cancelled due to fog.

Jose Mourinho and his squad were due to fly to Manchester on a private jet following the quarter-final, but instead arrived back in the north-west at 5am after being driven home on the team coach.

The disruption followed a chaotic journey to Bristol on Wednesday morning, with United's plane being diverted to Cardiff due to heavy fog.  


Korey Smith scores Bristol City's winning goal against Manchester United on Wednesday night

Korey Smith scores Bristol City's winning goal against Manchester United on Wednesday night

Jose Mourinho does not believe travel problems contributed to United's Carabao Cup defeat

Jose Mourinho does not believe travel problems contributed to United's Carabao Cup defeat

UNITED'S JOURNEY HOME

After having their flight back to Manchester cancelled due to fog, Mourinho and his players had around two-and-a-half hours added onto their journey time.

Ashton Gate to Carrington: 174 miles 

Flight time: 50 minutes

Drive time: 3 hours 23 minutes 

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United chose to fly to the south west on the day of the game with the Championship outfit, rather than head down the day before and stay overnight at a hotel.

After their flight was cancelled following the 2-1 loss at Ashton Gate, Romelu Lukaku and Co were forced to make a 174 mile trip by road back to their Carrington training base. The journey is likely to have taken almost three-and-a-half hours, whereas the flight time is just 50 minutes.

However, the club do not believe that disruption to their travel plans  on the way to Bristol played a role in their embarrassing Carabao Cup exit.

As a result of their diverted flight on the way to Bristol, the coach that had planned to pick them up had to re-route to Wales and bring Paul Pogba and Co back across the border – adding an hour to their journey.

The decision to travel on the day of the game has raised a few questions in the wake of their dramatic last-minute defeat.

But Sportsmail understands that the management team are confident that the arrangements did not contribute to what turned out to be a disastrous evening.


Plane tracking websites showed the landing time had been annulled and the flight distance was much longer than usual

Plane tracking websites showed the landing time had been annulled and the flight distance was much longer than usual

Poor conditions over Bristol caused the private jet they were travelling in to have to land at Cardiff Airport instead

Poor conditions over Bristol caused the private jet they were travelling in to have to land at Cardiff Airport instead

United goalkeeper Sergio Romero looks dejected as Bristol City fans celebrate on the pitch 

United goalkeeper Sergio Romero looks dejected as Bristol City fans celebrate on the pitch 

Romelu Lukaku trudges off the pitch as Bristol City players and fans enjoy a famous victory

Romelu Lukaku trudges off the pitch as Bristol City players and fans enjoy a famous victory

UNITED'S OTHER TRAVEL NIGHTMARES 

Tottenham's Premier League game against United at White Hart Lane in April 2016 was delayed by 30 minutes as the visitors' team bus was stuck in traffic.

A month later, United's game at West Ham was put back by 45 minutes after fans blocked the path of the team bus and threw bottles and other missiles.

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They felt that flying on the day of the game reduced interruption to United's Premier League campaign as it allowed those not taking part to train at Carrington in the morning as normal.

That the flight should have taken just 45 minutes was also factored in their choice.

All travel arrangements are signed off by Mourinho, who has taken a keen interest in the matter. The Portuguese has held the view that the logistical operation at Old Trafford was not what it should be for a club of United's stature.

In March, he was left fuming when his side did not return home until 4am following an FA Cup defeat at Chelsea – having to take the team bus when their flight from Heathrow was delayed.

Last April, United's match against Tottenham at White Hart Lane was delayed by 30 minutes as the visitors' coach was stuck in traffic while the following month saw their clash with West Ham United – the final fixture at Upton Park – put back by 45 minutes after supporters of the home side blocked the vehicle's path and launched bottles and other missiles at it.

 

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