Man United ‘to approach Giggs and Neville’ to use Hotel Football
Man United ‘to approach Ryan Giggs and Gary Neville’ to use Hotel Football for European games after traffic nightmares getting to Old Trafford
- Man United will approach club legends to use their Hotel Football at Old Trafford
- Jose Mourinho’s side have arrived late for last two home European fixtures
- The team coach got stuck in traffic travelling from other hotels
- But holding pre-match team talk at Hotel Football would solve this problem
- United were fined £13,000 for arriving late for their game against Valencia
Manchester United ‘will approach Hotel Football owners Ryan Giggs and Gary Neville’ in a bid to solve their travel woes before Champions League fixtures at Old Trafford.
Jose Mourinho’s side have arrived late for their last two home European fixtures because of heavy traffic around their stadium.
The United manager even stepped off the team coach and walked the last half mile ahead of their match with Juventus a fortnight ago to avoid a repeat of their late arrival before the previous game with Valencia.
Manchester United are ‘set to approach Hotel Football (right) owners Gary Neville and Ryan Giggs’ to use the facilities on matchdays after arriving late for their last two European games
Neville (left) and Giggs, two former United stars, own Hotel Football and Cafe Football within
United’s late arrival for their last two European game has given Jose Mourinho a headache
According to The Sun, one potential solution would be to hold pre-match preparations at Hotel Football, which is directly opposite Old Trafford and owned by the United legends.
United normally use the Lowry Hotel in the centre of Manchester for Mourinho to give his pre-match team talks.
But before the Juventus game they stayed at the Hilton Garden Inn near Old Trafford cricket ground, only to still arrive late despite the shorter journey.
A club source told The Sun: ‘The situation is again being reviewed after the Juventus drama. It has been a shambles if truth be told.
Hotel Football, a short walk to Old Trafford, opened in 2015 and is often fully booked
‘Hotel Football was flagged up as a suggestion and it would solve the recent travel issues, certainly in terms of the logistics.
‘United would have to make the approach but even then, Ryan and Gary have no problem booking the place out on match weekends, so might be conflicted if the call comes.
‘The owners weren’t too pleased when the hotel was launched back in 2015 but even they won’t mind if it sorts the travel situation out.’
Hotel Football, just a couple of minutes walk from Old Trafford, is often fully booked on match weekends.
How United showed up more than an hour late for their Champions League game with Valencia
Hotel Football, marked by the red pin, is directly outside Old Trafford on Sir Matt Busby Way
Hotel Football
Location: Sir Matt Busby Way, adjacent to Old Trafford
Owners: Ryan Giggs, Paul Scholes, Nicky Butt, Phil Neville, Gary Neville plus GG Hospitality Management Company
Opened: 2015
Floors: 12
Rooms: 133
Cost: £24m
Room price: £159-£239
Prior to the Valencia match, United left the Lowry in their team coach at 6pm but didn’t arrive until 7.16pm because of traffic gridlock, meaning kick-off had to be delayed by five minutes.
United were fined £13,000 by UEFA for their late arrival and the late kick-off. Mourinho blamed Greater Manchester Police for not providing an escort for the coach, but that only happens when there is a risk of harm to the players.
There was a similar situation when United tried to make the shorter journey from the Hilton ahead of their defeat by Juventus, with Mourinho donning a hoodie to walk among supporters to the ground.
Hotel Football, on Sir Matt Busby Way, has 133 rooms and a rooftop football pitch, cafe and bar open to supporters on matchdays.
A room costs from £189 for a King Room to £239 for a Class of 92 Room inspired by the successful group of United players who came through the club’s academy in that year, including Neville, Paul Scholes and David Beckham.
United were late for their game with Juventus despite staying just half a mile from the stadium
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