Jose Mourinho confirmed that Manchester United captain Antonio Valencia should be back for Monday’s game against Tottenham.
Paul Pogba has worn the armband in his absence to differing opinion. In Valencia’s absence, United have struggled at right back, with Matteo Darmian and Ashley Young having below par games against Leicester and Brighton.
In a strange press conference today at Carrington, Mourinho answered just a few questions and stayed for a short amount of time talking to journalists; presumably frustrated by speculation about his future after the defeat to Brighton on Sunday.
Mourinho confirmed that Valencia and Nemanja Matic should be back in contention to play their first games of the season while Alexis Sanchez should return after missing the last game.
The United boss accepted there had been a little of criticism. “Yeah, but don’t ask me because I don’t read (it).
“I don’t know 10 per cent of what is written, I don’t know 10 per cent of what is coming on the TV screens, so I’m not the right guy to answer to it.”
Mourinho was short when asked about his relationship with Woodward.
“Of course (our relationship is fine),” he said. “No (problem at all).”
When asked about Pogba’s comments about his effort at Brighton, Mourinho was similarly short.
“Paul told (that), Paul has to answer by his words,” the United manager said.
“If you want any explanation about Paul’s words you must get him and ask him.”