- Ecuador international Antonio Valencia has debunked claims he is injured
- The striker-turned defender has not featured for the Red Devils since early October when the Red Devils were forced to goalless draw by Valencia
- He was on the scores sheet for his national team in their 2-0 victory over Peru
Manchester United captain Antonio Valencia is reportedly unhappy with Jose Mourinho after being relegated to the bench in their last few games.
The 33-year-old last featured for the Red Devils in their barren draw against Valencia in the Champions League on October 2.
He has however revealed that he is not injured as claimed by the club's coaches according to Daily Star.
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Contrary to the defender's claims, Jose Mourinho insisted that the Ecuador star is injured and cannot play as a result of a complicated surgery.
The former Real Madrid and Chelsea gave the update after United's 2-1 victory over Bournemouth earlier this month.
"Antonio Valencia? I watched something funny in his Instagram where he says 'work work work' in the gym," Mourinho said.
"He should say 'work work work alone because I am injured and I cannot train with the team'.
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"So the reason why he was in the gym was because he was injured and he couldn't train with the team. So I think it looked like he was working really, really hard and he was.
"But without the ball and without the team, so you can imagine that he is not selected because he is not ready."
But Valencia played last night in Ecuador’s match against Peru - even getting on the score-sheet.
And the former Wigan ace has gone against his manager’s explanation, revealing he is not playing because of a tactical decision.
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"The relationship with Mourinho has always been a good one," Valencia told Ecuador's Area Deportiva radio.
"Right now I haven’t been playing, but it’s more of a tactical decision. The player who has been in my place (Young) has been playing well. You have to respect the decision.
"The only thing I can do is prepare and be ready for when he (Mourinho) needs me and be in the right condition to compete.
"I’m calm right now and I know I’ll get an opportunity to play again."
Legit.ng recalls that Premier League giants Manchester United have received a huge boost after the pair of Nemanja Matic and Antonio Valencia returned to full training.
The Mirror reported that both Matic and Valencia would be available for selection against Tottenham in the Premier League on Monday at Old Trafford after the pair left the club’s US tour early last month with various injury problems.
The Old Trafford dwellers have badly missed the midfield presence of Matic, who underwent abdominal surgery in the US a month ago, but he is now in contention to face Spurs.
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