As Austin Powers said while he was battling super-villain Random Task, “who throws a shoe?! Really?!” Along those lines, who gets a red card in an international friendly? Seriously?
Manchester United Defender Antonio Valencia does, and his manager Jose Mourinho defended the challenge, believing his right back definitely did not deserve to see red. Watch below, as Valencia commits a brutally stupid and completely unnecessary take on Real Salt Lake ‘s Sebastian Saucedo:
https://twitter.com/mufcaddiction/status/887240075473539073
That’s basically a villain in The Karate Kid “Johnny, sweep the leg” kind of moment when you consider that this was just a meaningless exhibition match. United then played with only 10 men from the 68′ on; they would go on to beat the Monarchs 2-1.
Mourinho saw what Antonio Valencia quite differently from what the officials saw.
“I think the delay was because the referee asked me to change the player and I didn’t because I don’t agree with the card because Saucedo, I think is the name of the boy, was really aggressive in second half.
“That’s what happens and some other actions were a bit dangerous. It’s young people with enthusiasm playing against Manchester United but it’s a friendly match and it’s a different mentality. But it’s preseason so no problem. It is good experience for us to play with one player less.”
Of course, on the other hand, don’t feel sorry for Saucedo, as he gave Juan Mata a kick on the right ankle that saw the Spaniard’s night end early. Mata came on at the beginning of the second half, and played just 15 minutes. Mourinho said that Mata could be missing for a week now.
Here’s the link to the second half news, notes and takeaways from this match.
Here’s the link to the first half news, notes and takeaways from this match.
United next to head to Houston, for the first ever Manchester Derby ever held outside of Europe on Thursday. They’ll face Manchester City in an exhibition that will see both sides honor victims of the Manchester Arena terrorist attack. Go here for more on those shirts and the bigger cause that they’ll serve.
Paul M. Banks runs The Sports Bank.net and TheBank.News, partnered with FOX Sports Engage Network and News Now. Banks, a former writer for the Washington Times, NBC Chicago.com and Chicago Tribune.com, currently contributes regularly to WGN CLTV.
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