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Solskjaer: Valencia Remains Manchester United Captain

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MANCHESTER — Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has snubbed reports suggesting that he will replace Antonio Valencia as the captain of Manchester United by confirming that the Ecuadorian will lead out the team again as soon as he’s fully fit.

Valencia slipped down the pecking order after liking an Instagram post in October which called for then manager Jose Mourinho to be sacked by the Manchester United board.

The experienced right-back was then dropped from the starting XI after Mourinho suggested that he wasn’t fit enough, but returned on 12 December in an away Champions League defeat a Valencia.

He was an unused substitute in the defeat to Liverpool on Dec. 16 in what turned out to be the last game in charge for Mourinho, and also missed the first two games of Solskjaer’s interim tenure.

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Valencia is the longest-serving active player in the Manchester United squad, having signed during the Sir Alex Ferguson tenure in 2009 and there were suggestions that the 33-year-old was on his way out of the club.

However, the Solskjaer confirmed that the skipper is working hard on his fitness and wants to be available to lead the team again in the New Year fixtures.

When asked if he could appoint a new captain, Solskjaer declared at his press conference on Friday: “I told you he’s the captain and, when he’s properly fit and playing, he’ll wear the armband.

“He’s going through a couple of tough sessions now to get him ready for the busy period coming up.

“When you look at Antonio, there are not many better right-backs going forward with his abilities so, yes, you’ll see him wearing his armband,” the Norwegian added.

Manchester United are in action again on Sunday against Bournemouth at Old Trafford when Solskjaer seeks his third successive win since replacing Mourinho in the dugout as temporary boss.

Martial, Rashford Lead Manchester United Past Bournemouth, 2-1

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BOURNEMOUTH – Marcus Rashford jumped off the bench to net the winner for Manchester United in a 2-1 victory at Bournemouth in the English Premier League on Saturday.

Rashford, who was dropped to the bench by manager Jose Mourinho in favor of Alexis Sanchez, came up big when asked to, as he scrambled home from close range in the second minute of time added on in the second half.

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Earlier, the home side Bournemouth took the lead through Callum Wilson in the 11th minute.

Poor defending saw Manchester United coming under a lot of pressure and Wilson capitalized on the run of play to give Eddie Howe’s men the advantage.

However, Manchester United, after hitting the post from an Ashley Young free-kick, leveled things up in the 35th minute when Anthony Martial steered home from a cross from Sanchez.

United were without leading striker Romelu Lukaku, who picked up an injury during training on Friday.

Despite the victory, though, Manchester United remain 7th in the English Premier League points standings and out of the Top 4.

Bournemouth are sixth.

Mourinho Warns He Faces Manchester United Sack

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MANCHESTER — Jose Mourinho has been warned he could be sack as manager at Manchester United if he continues to pick fights with players.

This is according to BBC Match of the Day pundit Alan Shearer, who believes the Portugal coach needs to stay concentrating on winning games and trophies rather than whining about the about the lack of new signings at Old Trafford this summer.

“In every interview, Mourinho is complaining and frowning and looking to scowl at everybody,” Shearer wrote in The Sun.

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“He can’t change the squad now. He has to work with the players he has got and that IS a talented group of players.

“The moaning must stop now and he has to get his head round winning football matches.

“There is a lot of opposition out there this year. Liverpool have spent a lot to try to get nearer to City, while the champions splashed out £60million on Riyad Mahrez.

Manchester United Reject Barcelona Offer For Pobga

“Jose has got to get that Manchester United squad to a position where they are starting to challenge City.”

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Mourinho was left frustrated after he was unable to sign all the players he requested in the summer transfer window.

Manchester United certainly could have used at least one more signing – especially another central defender but Shearer thinks the current group of players are very talented and Mourinho must now concentrate on finding the best way to get the best out of his squad.

“When you look at the United squad, it is very, very talented,” Shearer said.

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“David De Gea in goal, Eric Bailly at the back, Nemanja Matic, Paul Pogba, Jesse Lingard, Fred and Juan Mata — then Alexis Sanchez, Marcus Rashford, Romelu Lukaku and Anthony Martial up front.

“But they finished 19 points behind Manchester City last season and didn’t win a trophy after picking up two the season before.

“It is imperative that they get back to winning silverware. United doesn’t seem a happy ship — and that’s coming from the manager.”

Manchester United opened the 2018-19 English Premier League season with an unconvincing 2-1 win over Leicester City, with Pogba and Luke Shaw – two of the players being criticised by Mourinho – getting the goals.

Manchester United v Real Madrid International Champions Cup Live

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MIAMI, Fla. — Manchester United and Real Madrid will continue their preparations for the upcoming season when they battle each other in an International Champions Cup game live on ESPN2 on Tuesday.

The game, which will take place at the Hard Rock Stadium in Miami, Florida, will kick-off at 7:00 pm ET and can be streamed live on WatchESPN.

Manchester United enter this contest hoping to sign off the USA tour on a positive note, following a disappointing 4-1 loss to fellow English Premier League rivals Liverpool in Michigan on Sunday.

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Prior to that, Jose Mourinho’s men were held 1-1 by Club America, finished goalless with San Jose Earthquakes and edging Italian Serie A side AC Milan 9-8 in an entertaining penalty shootout in Carson, California, after the two sides finished 1-1 in regulation time.

The Red Devils are still without several key players who were involved in the recently concluded FIFA World Cup in Russia, but the likes of David de Gea and new recruit Fred, who linked up with the club recently, are both in contention to make his first start for Manchester United in this preseason.

Meanwhile, Real Madrid will aim to add further misery to what has been a very challenging preseason for Mourinho by beating Manchester United in Julen Lopetegui’s debut at the helm.

The European champions are also starting the post-Cristiano Ronaldo cycle, but Lopetegui, who replaced Zinedine Zidane, believes his squad, which includes Gareth Bale, who has been strongly linked to United, has the potential to still dominate.

It will be the third time that Manchester United and Real Madrid will face-off in the International Champions Cup.

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The two rivals met during last season preseason and also in 2014.

Real Madrid will also face Juventus and Roma in the coming days in the International Champions Cup.

Also in International Champions Cup action on Tuesday are, English Premier League side Tottenham against Serie A club AC Milan, live on ESPN3 and WatchESPN, while Spanish champions Barcelona will meet Italian club Roma.