Football Hot News: Manchester United keep Antonio Valencia back home to avoid him playing on artificial pitch for scare of knee injury

Manchester United winger Antonio Valencia has been sidelined not because Mourinho wants to but because he has to. Man U will be travelling to Switzerland to play their opening UEFA Champions League game against Young Boys on their 'artificial pitch' and they think it would be better for Antonio Valencia to stay back home in England. Why? Here's why...

Artificial Pitch is also called plastic pitch or artificial turfs. Artificial turfs are surfaces made out of synthetic fibers made to look like natural grass. The main reason artificial pitches were developed were because of domed, covered, and partially covered stadiums that have difficulty getting grass enough sunlight to stay healthy. Apart from periodic cleaning treatment, there is really no downside to using artificial turfs except that some players who have been injured before are scared of getting injuries due to the plastic turf.

Manchester United said: "We decide not to play Antonio Valencia because his knee is not a knee that needs an artificial pitch at all.

"So we brought Luke Shaw back to the squad and to the team."