Jose mourinho revealed why Antonio Valencia was sent off
Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho revealed Antonio Valencia was sent off in the friendly win against Real Salt Lake after he refused a request from the referee to substitute the Manchester United full-back.
Newly summer signing Romelu Lukaku open his first Manchester United account and Henrikh Mkhitaryan also on target but both Juan Mata and Matteo Darmian were forced off with injuries in the second-half a substitute Valencia saw red in Monday's 2-1
pre-seasonvictory at Rio Tinto Stadium.
Leading 2-1 at half-time, Valencia was introduced but he lasted only 15 minutes after a late tackle from behind on RSL's Sebastian Saucedo, who was involved in a heavy challenge on Juan Mata only moments earlier.
Referee Allen Chapman initially awarded a free-kick but the MLS official then suddenly brandished a red card after speaking with Mourinho on the sidelines.
"I think the delay was because the referee asked me to change the player and I didn't," Mourinho told reporters.
"Because I don't agree with the card. Because of Saucedo, I think is the name of the boy, he was really aggressive during all of the second-half, with what happened to Mata and some other actions where it was a bit dangerous, which I understand.
"Young people, enthusiasm playing against Manchester United, but you come with the mentality of a friendly match and in the end, you find yourself in a different mentality.
"But it's pre-season, no problem and also a good experience for us to play with one player less.
"Mata has a big ankle but I hope nothing important. A few days, a week maybe."
It was a memorable outing for Lukaku, who opened his account for United after debuting in the 5-2
routof LA Galaxy last week.
After canceling out Luis Silva's opener, Henrikh Mkhitaryan then teed up former Everton striker Lukaku for the game-winning goal six minutes before the break.
"I think it's just nice for him, it's not important for me," Mourinho said. "Before he scored the goal I told him 'I love everything you do on the pitch - don't be worried about scoring or not scoring'.
"He gets behind people, works and presses well. I like everything he does. It's easy to feel it because he was my player four years ago his evolution has been great. He's now a top striker. The goal is just a detail, not important."
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