Manchester United v Man City: First showdown between Jose Mourinho and Pep Guardiola could be called off due to thunderstorms in China

THE BIG SHOWDOWN between Jose Mourinho and Pep Guardiola in Beijing is in danger of being cancelled because of thunderstorms.

Severe weather in the Chinese Capital has already damaged the pitch at the Olympic Bird’s nest stadium.

Now thunderstorms are predicted for the day of the pre-season friendly on Monday.
The first Manchester derby between United and City on foreign soil was due to be an 80,000 sell-out.

Manchester United Spokesman Phil Townsend said: “We are aware of the bad weather in Beijing, but also that the organisers are working very hard on getting the game to go ahead.”

It will be a major blow to the International Champions Cup organisers as ithe game was being billed as the first big clash between the two new Manchester club bosses Guardiola and Mourinho since they went head to head in Spain.

ICC spokesman Xiaozheng Ben: “It’s a concern. The weather has been really bad.

“But we’re hopeful the game will go ahead.”

A Chinese Super League match has already fallen foul of the weather in what is typhoon season in this part of the world.