Man United news: Jose Mourinho ‘barely speaking’ to Manchester United skipper Antonio Valencia
Red Devils boss was furious with his captain for failing to show up and support to team in last week's Carabao Cup defeat to Derby County
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ANTONIO VALENCIA is reportedly the latest Manchester United star to fall out with Jose Mourinho.
The under-pressure Red Devils boss was furious the skipper did not attend last week’s Carabao Cup defeat at home to Derby.
And the claim Mourinho is now barely on speaking terms with the Ecuadorian hardman after his latest row.
Valencia - who has become a fan favourite since joining United from Wigan for £16million - was not included in the squad for the visit of Frank Lampard’s Championship outfit.
However, the United manager allegedly criticised the veteran full-back for his non-attendance despite his role as club captain before dropping him for the trip to West Ham.
Now his relationship with Valencia is believed to be at an all-time low just days after Mourinho stripped Paul Pogba of the vice-captaincy in his ongoing fallout with the club’s record signing.
Alexis Sanchez was another playing axed for the abysmal defeat to the Hammers - enduring United’s worst start to a season for 29 years.
As SunSport reported, Mourinho blasted the out of form Chilean in front of his team-mates before leaving him out of the Premier League clash.
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Sanchez, who arrived in Manchester from Arsenal in January, was fuming over the decision and is believed to be contemplating his future at United.
Meanwhile Pogba has declared he will leave the club in January unless Mourinho is gone.
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But the under-fire Mourinho has declared that his job is safe ahead of tonight’s Champions League clash with Valencia.
French star Pog told team-mates he cannot be bothered to argue with the manager any more.
He is embarrassed at being played in formations and with tactics that none of the team can get to grips with.
Pogba is so concerned that he has actually told people close to him he is better off not playing in a Mourinho team.
As SunSport reported yesterday, Jose is worried United chiefs are plotting to replace him.
He received a call from ex-Real Madrid manager Zinedine Zidane last week, the favourite to take charge.
The Frenchman rang to reassure Mourinho he had only been contacted by his representatives to enquire as to whether the United job appealed to him and claimed no talks between him and the Red Devils had occurred.
But it is widely-believed Jose could be fine unless he gets a positive result against Valencia and Newcastle at the weekend.
The defiant defiant ex-Chelsea man still remains adamant he will not be axed.
When asked if his job was on the line, Mourinho replied: “No, I don’t think so. What I can do to improve things I do and I will improve the things that depend on me and my work.”
And he claims he still has the support of his players, despite the rows with Valencia and Sanchez.
He added: “Some care more than others.
“I am still the kid that I was 20 years ago and I am still naive, but I still don't believe that a player is not honest.”