Manchester United defender Antonio Valencia apologises for poor challenge which earned him red: 'The boy wound me up, I hope it doesn’t happen again'

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Antonio Valencia has apologised for the tackle that saw him sent off during Manchester United’s win over MLS club Real Salt Lake in Utah.

The Ecuador defender was shown a red card for a challenge on Real’s Sebastian Saucedo after American referee Allen Chapman told United boss Jose Mourinho to take off Valencia or have him sent off.

When Mourinho refused, Chapman dismissed Valencia more than two minutes after he had committed the offence. It was retribution for Saucedo’s challenge on Juan Mata, and what Mourinho described as the midfielder’s aggressive approach.

Manchester United defender Antonio Valencia was sent off for fouling Sebastian Saucedo

Saucedo produced a horror challenge of his own when he scythed down Juan Mata

And Valencia admitted the Real player 'wound him up a bit' following the Mata challenge

However, Valencia has accepted the blame, saying: ‘It was my fault. I hope that it doesn’t happen in an important competition like the Premier League or the Champions League. It was a friendly, I want to apologise to the fans and my team. I hope it will not happen in the future.

‘It was my mistake. The boy was very excited and he wound me up a bit and I hope it doesn’t happen in the future.’

Mata left the Rio Tinto Stadium with a swollen ankle and is a doubt for the Manchester derby in Houston in the early hours of Friday.

After the game, Mourinho confirmed that he ignored the referee’s request to take off Valencia, saying: ‘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. 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.

United manager Jose Mourinho was told he could substitute Valencia off, but did not  

Mourinho told referee Allen Chapman he wouldn't as he didn't agree with the red card decision

'But it’s pre-season so no problem. It is good experience for us to play with one player less.’

Real coach Mike Petke also asked Mourinho to withdraw Valencia before it was too late because he didn’t want his team to play against 10 men.

‘I walked halfway across towards the Man United bench,’ said Petke. ‘That was to tell them I'd like them to put somebody back on. I don't want to play a man up.

‘I want my guys to get a real game against one of the best in the world, so if he feels that way he has got a hell of a lot more experience than me.

‘He has won a hell of a lot more than me, so he's probably right but I am little irrational.

Real boss Mike Petke also asked Mourinho to substitute Valencia so his side played against 11

‘I don't think there was an intent with the Mata thing and I think that was a red card with what happened with Valencia – with all due respect to my mentor and my favourite manager, Mourinho.

‘I'll say this, Sebastian he got hit pretty hard a couple of times and I don't know if the Mata situation happened before.

‘I can tell you my opinion is that, having coached him and knowing him on a personal level, there was no intent. He was just playing hard.

‘It would be like if the New York Yankees went anywhere around the world and played another team. The team would play extremely hard. If the Golden State Warriors went over to Europe, every team would be playing hard. It's their championship, their World Cup.

‘So perhaps that is what some of our guys (were like). I know it wasn't intent from Sebastian whatsoever.’