Boss Reacts To Bailly Missing The Super Cup

Manchester United defender Eric Bailly will miss the Super Cup match against Real Madrid on 8 August after his European ban was extended from one to three matches by UEFA, a punishment which Jose Mourinho accepts but still perceives to be harsh.

Bailly was sent off during the closing stages of the Reds' tense Europa League semi-final second leg against Celta Vigo back in May and that dismissal ruled him out of the final against AFC Ajax in Stockholm.

UEFA have this week extended the Ivorian's ban to three games, meaning he will now miss the Super Cup meeting in Skopje and United's first Champions League group stage match in September.

Mourinho spoke at a press conference in Washington DC on Tuesday afternoon to preview the International Champions Cup tie against FC Barcelona, where he was also asked for his reaction to Bailly's ban.

“You know my view is that, normally with UEFA, what you get is what you get," the manager explained. "You accept with a happy face or with a bad face, but you must always accept. It was a red card in the semi-final and I think the punishment of not playing in the final is enough.

"It is a big punishment not to play in the final. I say that normally he would deserve a clean slate and start the next season with a clean slate, and be ready to play the Super Cup. Now he is an important player for us who is not able to play the Super Cup and also the first match of the Champions League group stage. But not to play the Europa League final and the European Super Cup is a very, very harsh punishment.”