Manchester United interim manager Ralf Rangnick is in disbelief at the 'human disaster' of the Ukraine conflict and believes Uefa's decision to strip Russia of the Champions League final was 'inevitable'.
Russia invaded Ukraine by land, sea and air in the early hours of Thursday morning and 137 soldiers and civilians were killed in the first day of conflict. Uefa confirmed on Friday morning the Champions League final would now be staged at the Parc des Prince in Paris, rather than St Petersburg.
United have terminated their sponsorship with Russian airline Aeroflot, which is banned from flying into the UK.
Rangnick lived in Moscow for six months last year when he was the Lokomotiv Moscow sporting director prior to moving to Manchester, and is saddened by the situation in Ukraine.
"The situation is desperately sad," Rangnick said. "I think everybody will think similarly about that, it's just an incredible situation that we have a kind of war in Europe. And therefore, the decision Uefa took was inevitable and it was the right decision.
"I think everybody has the same opinion about what's happening there. This is just a human disaster, what is happening there for all the people involved.
"Right now, as far as I can tell, the situation in Russia and in Moscow is still safe but this doesn't change anything about the whole situation, which is desperately sad. When I still watch TV in the morning and the evening I still cannot believe what I see there.
"This is just a terrible situation and I very, very much hope the politicians all over the world can help to deescalate the situation and finish those kind of things that are happening there."
