Man Utd grounded: Red Devils' preparations for Porto Europa League clash hampered by travel chaos

According to The Mirror,the Red Devils were originally scheduled to fly out of Manchester around 3pm on Wednesday afternoon but were delayed by over three hours, finally departing at 6:10pm. Severe weather conditions, including thick fog and heavy rain, forced the delay, leaving the team scrambling to adjust their pre-match plans.

By the time Erik ten Hag's squad touched down in Portugal, they were three hours behind their original schedule. The manager had initially planned to hold his pre-match press conference at the Estadio do Dragão at 7pm on Wednesday evening, but due to the late arrival, the press conference was postponed 90 minutes.

In their opening Europa League group stage match, United were held to a disappointing 1-1 draw by Dutch side Twente, leaving them in need of a positive result against Porto. After a disappointing 3-0 defeat to Tottenham, a win would not only restore some confidence in the team but also give United their first victory in the competition this season.

The upcoming clash with Porto is just one of two crucial away games for United before the international break. After the Europa League fixture, the Red Devils will travel to face Aston Villa on Sunday in what could be a season-defining match for Ten Hag. A loss in either of these games could spell disaster for the manager, whose future at the club is already being questioned.