SANTA CLARA, Calif. -- Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho has admitted he is worried that Antonio Valencia's injury could be a sign of things to come next season.
Valencia was forced off after just seven minutes of the 0-0 draw with San Jose Earthquakes at Levi's Stadium on Sunday.
He was limping slightly as he came through the mixed zone after the final whistle but said he was "OK."
However, in his postmatch news conference, Mourinho painted a much more downbeat picture.
"He's injured," he told MUTV. "We need to get used to it. Last season he was already in this kind of situation and probably this season we're going to have more of that."
Valencia has been United's regular right-back since Mourinho took charge at Old Trafford in 2016.
But the Portuguese coach has tried to manage his work-load with the Ecuadorian rarely playing two games a week.
Mourinho has signed Diogo Dalot from Porto this summer as cover but the 19-year-old has already been ruled out until September with a knee injury.
Matteo Darmian, Timothy Fosu-Mensah, Victor Lindelof and Axel Tuanzebe are his other options at right-back. Ashley Young could also switch from left-back once he returns from holiday.
