Manchester derby in China cancelled due to weather and state of pitch

The first clash between Jose Mourinho and Pep Guardiola in three years, after they took charge of United and City respectively this summer, will not go ahead in Beijing's Bird's Nest stadium following a day of rain in which the Portuguese’s side had to be diverted in their plane on the way to the capital and the manager had to conduct a press conference outside because the small media room was too packed.

A tweet on United's account read: "Due to recent weather events, tournament organisers & participating clubs have decided to cancel tonight's International Champions Cup game."

Mourinho had already taken aim at the pitch on Sunday, saying: "City against United for me is at Old Trafford or at the Etihad or even the cup final at Wembley. Not a friendly. Maybe with these conditions it’s a double friendly."

“I think Beijing is unlucky because the pitch is very bad. The condition of my players is more important than the results in pre-season. I have only one goal from tomorrow’s match, take the players home safe.”

It was not only the rain that caused an issue for the pitch. It had also been affected by a fungus and various parts of it had been relaid with turf. There had been dozens of ground staff working relentlessly to solve the problem, to no avail.

Both teams have one pre-season match left, with City taking on Borussia Dortmund in the final International Champions Cup match at the Shanzhen Stadium on Thursday and United travelling to Gothenburg, Sweden, to take on Galatasaray on Saturday.

The Premier League season then kicks off when Guardiola's men take on Sunderland on Saturday, August 13 and United playing Bournemouth the day after.