Football
Rob Dawson, Correspondent 5y

Manchester United's Antonio Valencia apologises for liking anti-Jose Mourinho post

Antonio Valencia has apologised for liking an Instagram post that suggested Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho should be sacked.

The defender appeared to support a post which said "it's time for Mourinho to go" following the 0-0 Champions League draw with Valencia on Tuesday night.

However, on Wednesday morning the 33-year-old -- United's club captain -- insisted he is still behind the Portuguese coach.

"Yesterday, I liked a post on Instagram without reading the text that accompanied the picture," he said. "These are not my views and I apologise for this. I am fully supportive of the manager and my teammates. We are all giving our everything to improve the results."

Valencia is among the players Mourinho has criticised this season saying during the summer a calf injury suffered by the Ecuadorian was because he had "too many holidays" in the summer.

Meanwhile, Paul Pogba told reporters at Old Trafford he is "not allowed" to speak after appearing to criticise Mourinho's tactics following the 1-1 draw with Wolves.

He has also been stripped of the vice-captaincy before becoming embroiled in a training ground spat with Mourinho over an Instagram post sent in the wake of the Carabao Cup exit to Derby County.

Despite declining to speak to journalists, the 25-year-old later posted on Twitter: "Let's keep fighting United."

United's players gathered together in a huddle before kick-off against Valencia, something used by other clubs but not usually seen at Old Trafford.

Marouane Fellaini said afterwards it was done as a show of unity after a difficult few days following the heavy defeat at West Ham.

"The spirit is there," he said. "You saw it. I think everybody is behind the manager. We have to do our best and do our job. We showed it [against Valencia] but we have to do better on Saturday [against Newcastle.

"I think it was a bad day against West Ham. We were all bad. I think we showed improvement and we have to keep going."

United face Newcastle at home on Saturday looking to win at Old Trafford for the first time since the 2-1 victory over Leicester on Aug. 10.

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