United's Valencia apologises for Mourinho Instagram fail
Manchester United skipper Antonio Valencia apologised for liking an Instagram post that called for manager Jose Mourinho to be sacked after Tuesday's goalless draw against Spanish side Valencia in the Champions League.
Defender Valencia said he had liked the post by a supporter, which also contained his pictures, but had not read its caption which read: "It's time for Mourinho to go".
"Yesterday, I liked a post on Instagram without reading the text that accompanied the picture," Valencia said on Twitter on Wednesday.
"These are not my views and I apologise for this. I am fully supportive of the manager and my team mates. We are all giving our everything to improve the results," the Ecuadorian added.
British media reports have said Valencia has fallen out with Portuguese Mourinho who is under heavy criticism after the club's worst start to a season since 1989-90.
United have 10 points from seven Premier League matches and sit in 10th place, nine points behind leaders Manchester City. They have also been dumped out of the League Cup by second-tier Derby County.
Mourinho's apparent rift with record signing Paul Pogba has led to the Frenchman being demoted as vice-captain to further fuel media speculation that the manager is losing his influence at Old Trafford.
The 20-times English champions host Newcastle United in the league on Saturday.
Manchester United in trouble after arriving late for Champions League match
Manchester United have been charged by UEFA after arriving late for their goalless draw at home to Valencia in the Champions League on Tuesday, the European soccer body said on Wednesday.
British media reports said the United team bus had been held up in traffic on the way to Old Trafford and arrived only 45 minutes before kickoff of the Group H match, which was put back by five minutes.
UEFA said that disciplinary proceedings had been opened against the English Premier League side for "late team arrival" and "late kick-off".
Valencia were also charged over the late kickoff, along with "kit infringement" and the setting-off of fireworks by their supporters, UEFA said.
A fourth successive winless game increased the pressure on United manager Jose Mourinho who cut a deflated figure afterwards.
