Mourinho: Bailly ban very harsh

Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho expressed surprise Tuesday at the three-match ban that Uefa handed defender Eric Bailly on Monday. Ivorian Bailly was sent off for violent conduct in the second leg of United's Europa League semi-final victory over Celta Vigo in May for his part in a melee in the final minutes of a 1-1 draw at Old Trafford.

Jose Mourinho on Eric Bailly's ban: "I accept it was a red card in a semi-final, I think the punishment of not to play the final is enough." pic.twitter.com/d3EzzOj35l

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He was suspended for the 2-0 win over Ajax Amsterdam in the final, but will now also miss a further two games - including the August 8 European Super Cup clash against Champions League winner Real Madrid in Skopje, Macedonia.

"It was a red card in a semi-final, I think the punishment of not to play the final is enough, it's a big punishment not to play the final, and I say that normally he would deserve a clean sheet and start the next season with a clean sheet and ready to play the Super Cup," Mourinho said.

"But now he's an important player for us who is not able to play the Super Cup and the first match of the Champions League group phase but not to play the Europa League final and the Super Cup is very, very harsh." Mourinho was speaking to reporters in Washington, where United take on Barcelona on Wednesday in the International Champions Cup friendly tournament.