Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho said yesterday’s draw for the last 16 of the Europa League against Russian side Rostov has been unkind to his team, the favourites.

“It is a bad draw in every aspect. Far and difficult. Comes in a bad period,” Mourinho, whose side are still competing on four fronts, told reporters at the AON Training Complex.

“They had a very good Champions League campaign. They beat Ajax and Anderlecht in qualifiers and managed important results against Bayern Munich and Atletico Madrid.

“I know the manager well, I played against him when he was in Rubin Kazan and I was in Italy in Inter and the team is really difficult, very defensive, very physical, so a bad draw but after Southampton and after Bournemouth we focus on it and we go for it.”

Rostov, which is north east of Moscow, beat Bayern Munich in the Champions League group phase and suffered two narrow defeats by Atletico Madrid.

United play in the English League Cup final tomorrow and are still in the FA Cup and chasing a top-four finish in the Premier League.

They will play the second Europa League leg at home.

Second favourites Roma, of Italy, face a tricky task against French club Lyon while Schalke and Borussia Moenchengladbach clash in an all-Bundesliga derby.

Gent’s reward for knocking out Tottenham Hotspur at Wembley is a tie against fellow Belgians Genk.

Celta Vigo, Spain’s only survivors, face Russian club Krasnodar.

Europa League last-16

Celta Vigo (Spain) vs FC Krasnodar (Russia)    
Apoel FC (Cyprus) vs Anderlecht (Belgium)    
Schalke (Germany) vs Borussia Gladbach (Germany)    
Olympique Lyon (France) vs Roma (Italy)    
Rostov (Russia) vs Manchester United (England)    
Olympiacos (Greece) vs Besiktas (Turkey)    
Gent (Belgium) vs Genk (Belgium)    
FC Copenhagen (Denmark) vs Ajax (Netherlands)

First legs: March 9. Second legs: March 16