Both Jose Mourinho and Pep Guardiola were asked on Sunday whether or not they would shake hands with one another when their new sides took to the pitch in Beijing.
Manchester United and Manchester City are scheduled to face one another in China as part of the International Champions Cup which will coincide with the first meeting of Mourinho and Guardiola as managers of the Manchester arch-rivals.
While both laughed off the suggestions that they would refuse the pre-match show of respect, there may yet be no handshake as the match is in serious jeopardy.
Rain has been pelting the Chinese capital all weekend and the forecast suggests that there’s no let-up in sight.
Already Mourinho has expressed concerns about the playing surface in the Bird’s Nest Stadium, which has also been infected by fungus ahead of the game.
“The pitch is very bad,” he said on Sunday.
“The pitch and the conditions of my players are more important than results in pre-season.
“It’s not a problem for me to lose matches in pre-season. It’s a problem for me, bad conditions for my players to train and bad conditions for my players to play.”
Manchester City, according to Manchester Evening News, are unhappy that the Red Devils are showing a lack of urgency in trying to get the match to go ahead.
Journalists in Beijing for the game remain very much in doubt of it being played given the extreme weather conditions.
Rain hasn't stopped for hours in Beijing, storms forecast all night. Quagmire pitch or abandonment for #MUFC v #MCFC pic.twitter.com/NsjmoZkwbt
— Simon Peach (@SimonPeach) July 24, 2016
It's pouring in Beijing. Forecast to carry on until 5pm tomorrow. If it does, United vs City would be in serious doubt.
— Rob Dawson (@RobDawsonESPN) July 24, 2016
Torrential rain here in Beijing. Very real prospect of Man City v Man Utd being called off if it carries on #MCFC #MUFC @MirrorFootball
— David McDonnell (@DiscoMirror) July 24, 2016
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