Antonio Valencia Deserves Right-Back Opportunity

Judging from his performances in preseason and the opening Premier League win over Bournemouth, Antonio Valencia looks like a player deserving of a place in the starting XI.

His incredible pace, which he lacked the confidence (or instruction) to use, has returned. He’s beating players, putting in good crosses, tracking back and essentially doing everything you would ask of a right-back at United.

If you asked Manchester United fans about the Ecuadorian international over the past couple of seasons, many would have suggested selling him. Having lost his place on the wing, he had regularly been used as a right-back — not a position that made the most of his attacking attributes, which had begun to look increasingly limited anyway.

Offensively, Valencia wasn’t putting enough quality balls in to the box; defensively, he was caught out of position too often. He isn’t naturally a full-back, so while his pace makes him a suitable candidate for the position at United, his defensive ability wasn’t near the standard it needed to be.

However, his recent rise, which began with him being given the captain’s armband for Jose Mourinho’s first game in the friendly against Wigan, brings back the memories of when he was a fans’ favourite at Old Trafford. Though it feels like a lifetime ago now.

Based on his form in the 2011-12 season, when he was named the fans’ and players’ Player of the Year, as well as scoring United’s goal of the season, he was rewarded with the famous No. 7 shirt in the summer. This was a move that was largely well received among the fans, given that Man City winger David Silva was the only player to assist more goals in the league at the time.

But it appears the No. 7 was cursed when it was given to Michael Owen in 2009. Worn by George Best, Bryan Robson, Eric Cantona, David Beckham and Cristiano Ronaldo previously, since the Liverpool legend put it on, all the players donning this shirt have failed. Valencia, Angel Di Maria and now Memphis Depay.

Valencia opted to revert to No. 25 after just one season but this did little to bring back his form of seasons gone by.

It didn’t take long for fans to turn on him and all his efforts from years gone by were seemingly forgotten, which is a shame because Valencia had done well for the club. Bought from Wigan in the summer following Cristiano Ronaldo’s departure to Real Madrid, he was never going to fill the legendary player’s boots, but he did a good job and has showed admirable character.

Loyalty is not in huge supply these days and, with agents having a huge influence over their clients, Valencia made the decision in 2012 to get rid of his — insisting his wish was to retire at United.

“I do not want to move from Manchester,” he said, when explaining why he had separated from agent Diego Herrera. “I’m happy where I live and I enjoy being in Manchester every day.”

Valencia’s attitude is exactly what the fans want in an era when money dictates all, yet that hasn’t been enough to win large sections of the crowd over. When you consider Valencia earns the same as Marcos Rojo and less than Ashley Young, Marouane Fellaini and Memphis Depay, yet is totally content with his situation because the cheques come from United, he deserves credit.

United certainly have options. Tim Fosu-Mensah is a great prospect at right-back, although his future may lie centrally or in midfield, and supporters are desperate to see him in the team. Meanwhile, Matteo Darmian looked completely bereft of confidence by the end of last season after a bright start and has been linked with a move back to Italy.

Maybe Mourinho will opt to give Fosu-Mensah the chance to prove himself as he clearly has the youngster in his plans, if reports of the new contract are to be believed. The manager doesn’t have a great track record in giving young players a consistent run in the first-team (despite him protesting the contrary) so Fosu-Mensah may have to wait until next season to be a regular starter, while Darmian shouldn’t be written off either until we see what kind of impact Mourinho has on him.

But United’s right-back solution is currently very simple. Valencia has yet to be tested by any top quality attackers, but judging from the number of assists he’s managed in preseason, as well as the competent job he’s done in defence, the spot deservedly belongs to him until someone can wrest it away.