Nani has had a tough time at Manchester United, this season more than ever, but has put in three good performances on the trot and seems to be revitalised.
A few months ago it appeared as though Nani would definitely be leaving Old Trafford but Sir Alex Ferguson’s man management may just have turned things around.
“Week by week the coach has shown more and more confidence in me and that has really helped,” Nani said. “United is not a very easy place to recover your place in the first team because there is such a big squad and I had problems at the start of this season. Injuries certainly damaged my performances and it was difficult. But Sir Alex was very clear with me – he spoke at length about what he expected and was always very positive. He changed my mentality and improved my morale over the past few months and now I think I am getting as much satisfaction from my performances as I ever had.”
He then distanced himself from comparisons with his compatriot Cristiano Ronaldo.
“As I’ve said before, I am Nani and not Cristiano Ronaldo. I don’t want comparisons because our style of play is different.”
Amid rumours of a move away, Nani is insistent he’s staying put.
“My future is at Manchester United,” he continued. “I’ve heard all the rumours but my mission is to stay and help the club win more titles. I had a good game against Hull City. That’s my challenge, to play more, get more minutes. I know what the coach expects from me and I’m trying to always offer my maximum level on the field.”
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get in nani!
Superb. Was glad to see him crossing the ball first time and not trying to beat and then beat the same defender againa nd again. Hope he gets the first half of the game tomorrow.
As much as he was useless on left flank he was outstanding on the right for last two games!! 2 games dont make a season, but if he keeps going like this, there is no stopping him.
I only hope Giggsy and Scholes can be at their best tomorrow, 2 really hard games in a row for 34+ year olds in space of 4 days, hmmm. Fingers crossed!
Arsenal : United 0:2
Hope he’s never returned to the left. Great to see his commitment to the club and the manager. Its not the first time that he’s saying the right things. I’m sure he wants to put the doubters (including a considerable section of our fans) in their place. Well done lad.
Sir Alex is the reason our players have this sort of attitude
it’s down to great man management skills!
well done Nani must be said too for getting his head down hope he continues to improve and can become our 2nd Portuguese great
viva nani!
This is what you want to hear from our players. Not that nonsense about dreams or hot weather elsewhere.
They should all realise how lucky they are to be playing for the Greatest club in the World.
Had a great game against Hull, who like alot of the lower clubs have improved and given us a game at OT. His cross for Rooneys 3rd was class.
Always felt sorry for him because some fans and the media do compare him with Ronaldo and expect too much.
I would think nani would better off starting on the right tomorrow because he can use both feet whereas valencia is a 1 footed player and this will be easy for gael clichy as he is a left back with lots of pace too
what abt Valencia then?? do we disrupt his fine form???
I’m so happy with his latest performances… finally someone who can deliver a decent cross!!! Go Nani!!!
Although Valencia is one footed I’d like to see them both on the pitch swapping wings throughout the game like Giggs and Sharpe used to do. Valencia on the left would still be great cutting inside and alongside Evra could still be devastating. Perhaps not tomorrow but would be great to see.
I believe in his abilities.It wouldbe a mistake to sell him in the summer.Nani andValencia could change flanks during the game.
He can’t play on the left
Must play on the riiiiigggghhht
That boy Nani
Makes Nani look shite
Two weeks ago, I would have bet you my house that nani would leave United in May or even in Jan…. and I was sure that Anderson would be here for years to come…. How wrong could I have been?
I am so desperate for Nani to do well…currently I just don’t feel it’s going to happen. He’s a player I really don’t see enough value in, and it saddens me to say it. I hope that I am so wrong about him, and he turns out to be a Ronaldo/Fletcher success rather than Kleberson/Djemba Djemba failure.
Luckily the last player I felt so strongly like this about was aforesaid Darren Fletcher…whoops
Keep it up Nani
As frustrating as he is, there is something about his game that i really hope shines through. Has mad skills when he uses them the right way, as he has been doing in the last three games….a different player.
@urval87, good thing you didn’t make that wager. lol
Our problem still lies with the left wing though with both Nani and Valencia showing they are much more effective on the right wing.
I guess SAF could play Park on the left allowing Evra to raid down the left and rotate Nani and Valencia. Although does two seem to click pretty well during one of the game where they both work out a goal for Rooney through the middle.
People say he is rubbish on the Left but he did pretty well on the Left against Burnley. With added confidence there is no reason that he can’t play very well on the left.
Mind you Valencia can play in the Centre, Fergie mentioned this at the start of the season and apparently he plays in the Centre for his country. So we could play Nani on the right and Valencia in the Centre.
Just hoping Scholes doesn’t start against the Gooners, he was great Midweek but he won’t get the time on the ball he got against city and we won’t find possession as easy to come by and this is where Scholes has quite often been caught out this season. If we go with 1 up top then we need 2 attacking wingers and 3 midfielder who can join up well (Would go Fletcher, Carrick and either Giggs or Anderson)
I think Nani’s problem is that he misses Queiroz. After initially being under his tutorship we naturally expected big things from him. He’d showed as much promise in his first season as Ronaldo had. The comparisons predictably flowed. His fall then coincided with Carlos’ departure.
This season, when Nani was struggling badly with us, he was being given his chances with Portugal. Whilst watching them against Bosnia, I couldn’t believe this was the same player failing to meet the expectations for us. It’s no coincidence that he was performing under his fellow countryman, a man who built his reputation on bringing through some of Portugal’s finest talent.
All of his best work comes from the right. It even happened when he wasn’t playing well. I remember one of his more forgetful games, he was on the right, and when he made his first move of intent it led to a goal. It took him until the second-half, that was the problem.
I don’t know what’s caused this turnaround. He suddenly looks more interested, more confident in himself. Even with having a productive Valencia, if we can continue to get results from Nani by starting him on the right, we have to come to a compromise.
Nani and inconsistency who wins? Lets watch out!
Tom @ 13:13: “Although Valencia is one footed I’d like to see them both on the pitch…… Valencia on the left would still be great cutting inside and alongside Evra could still be devastating.”
I am in complete agreement with this line of thinking. BOTH of these guys have killer speed – Valencia seems stronger, Nani is the more skilled – and while neither is naturally left-footed they would both be playing “inside left” when stationed on the left side of the pitch since it’s Patrice Evra who provides the wide-width (so to speak) down the left.
What’s important to remember in analyzing these guys, is that they – like the team – are a work-in-progress which is one reason why SAF is tinkering with his line-up/formations. Fergy can only learn so much from training – real-time action in big games against serious opponents is the only way to determine what works best in crunch-time.
The idea of “rotating” Nani and Valencia on the right while giving playing time on the left to Park is just ridiculous. Park brings a lot to the table but he’s just not a good enough offensive threat to put either Nani or Valencia on their backsides in an important match.
Valencia can play through the middle as well according to SAF and its a way of getting him and Nani on the pitch while they are both in good form, dont know who we would drop to the bench (defo not Fletch!!) but its another option for us.
Not one to try against Arseholes tho!!
Looks like Sir Alex loves a 4-5-1 or 4-3-3.Bearing this in mind, we go with a 4-2-3-1 where we can accomodate both Nani and Valencia.lets go with a 4-2-3-1 for our important away matches although my favourite formation is a 4-4-2.
vds
rafael vidic evans evra
fletch Carrick
Nani Valencia Giggs
Rooney
Nani MUST play on the right wing and not at the expense of Valencia, who therfore shifts to an attacking midfielder position, just behind rooney.
good but that doesnt mean Valencia gets the bench? hopefully not
Three good performances in a row, im happy for nani but i dont think he’ll start 2morro.
@KungFuKick
I have always been a fan of the more fluid and dynamic counter attacking 4-3-3 formation and it has served us very well 2007 – 2009.
Tevez, Rooney, and Ronaldo all interchaging was amazing and it worked.
The only issue I ever had was the lack of goals from the midfield 3.
4-4-2 was what SAF decided to play up until recently in the season to accomodated Berbatov and because of the loss of Tevez and Ronaldo we didn’t have the personnel to play the 4-3-3 formation.
I do think now that SAF has seen that 2 out of Giggs, Nani, and Valencia can fill the front 3 which would of course include Rooney.
Aslong as Rooney is supported up front and not left isolated so he drops deep the formation works very well.
I think with the 4-4-2 formation with Berbatov in the starting eleven SAF has seen that counter attacking is slow and goal scoring opportunities are missed. I mean 4-4-2 worked in the 90′s and early 00′s but the game has changed from them days in to a faster counter attacking style of football. Plus 4-3-3 is a better suied style of play for Europe if you ask me.
Nani is good on the wing, crosses well. But when it comes to taking corners, he’s still shite. Hope it changes soon.
hope the lad keeps proving me wrong. I thought he was shit and finished. could be the boost we need to see us over the line
This is what is so frustrating about Nani and Anderson since we bought them, apart from the early in the first season. Never do i see both of them do well at the same time, its one or other – its always one doing well and the other looking like he’s on his way out. They’re both mighty talented, I wish every one in a while I could be reassured that BOTH will be here for a long long time. The funny thing is its not like they play the same position so the success of one is necessarily a problem for the other. Get your act together you both – nothing would please me more than Ando starting tomorrow, dominating the midfield, and Nani doing the business down the wings.
Nani deserve another chance with a change in attitude like that. He’s even looked like a Unioted player in the past couple of weeks. Let’s hope it’s the start of an illustrious career.
… and go on the Red Knights!
Our one big problem is our left midfield. Nani although good on the left is better on the right. Our left hand side is very weak with no natural left winger. I thought tosic would be good there but he is on loan now. If we can have one good left winger it could be devastating. Btw, for the match Pool against Bolton. Watch out for Lee on the right hand side. Been saying he is one good player. If we can get him it could be great.
I do agree with Bebeto. Nani and anderson miss Queiroz. In their first season they are playing very well. Until Queiroz leaves, they have been inconsistent.
Michal – Hargo is the best free kick and corner taker. I’m still hurting to see him on the sidelines.
Nani ? I would love him to be a success at tthe club but he is not Ronaldo i terms of the entertainment. Let’s hope he will be effective.
I still thinl Kaka is the most elegant player in the game.
Nani is improving and if he can get near to his performance against Arsenal a few years back when we beat them 4-0 then he will be on the right track. I always said if we sold him he would make it in another team and then we will be kicking ourselves similar to Pique when we let him go.
@Kel
I think that SAF also misses Quieroz.
Don’t get me wrong SAF is a legend and a great motivator and man manager but I think he is lacking tactically at the very highest level.
Remember in Moscow 2008 when SAF was about to put O’Shea on and Quiroz tols him put Ando on for the penalties?! Was a costly descision that could have been!
Plus I thought United got the tactics all wrong in Rome 2009 against Barcelona. I still haven’t been able to bring myself to watch a repeat of that game although I have had it on my PC since the game.
I’ve always thought it was a bad idea to write Nani off. He has incredible talent but just needs to apply it better. I hope he gets the confidence of 07/08 back. Good luck to you, Nani.
Play him on the right and he will shine. I wish he can perform similarly on the left, but it is just not his natural position. I would give Valencia a start tomorow, and if we are winning comfortablly (hopefully) then I’d bring Nani on to keep the other fresh. The only person we can thank for his improved performances is Fergie, who must have had a word with him and given him confidence and faith.
I have been looking for this picture of Nani kissing the badge. It is clear that he wants to stay and loves the club very much. Keep up the performances and you will become a truly great player.
Corea – I know he destroyed our makeshift defence 3 years ago but to my mind Kaka is over rated. He is struggling at Madrid so far.
Fear his fragile upturn might founder if he’s sent back to the left to reaccommodate Valencia. Let them both battle it out for the right on a holders keepers basis rather than confidence-destroying rotation for the sake of it.
Obertan on the left, Giggs as an impact substitute, and Park on a one way back to Seoul with some dog jerky for the journey.
King Eric – i am not talking about being effective, i am talking about art and preferences. It’s football and i am a proud owner of the Fletch t-shirt though.
Good evening.
Always had belief in the lad. Hope he can turn his momentum to both his own and our advantage to go the distance with the rest of the team. It’s going to be interesting to see how Sir Alex handles the right wing from now on. We have always had great players there..
Corea – Fair enough mate. He is graceful, I will give you that. Good evening.
FusilliJerry – Alright pal. I was one of many with high hopes for Obertan, I still have, but he is not ready for Premier League games just yet, much less Arsenal away. Great going forward but no defensive capabilities whatsoever, He has backed out of EVERY fifty fifty I have seen him up against. Needs to build and toughen up more yet.
No, Obertan isn’t within a million miles of the finished article – we won’t be buying those anymore with the Glazers around – but he’s surely no more of a liability than the da Silvas, who seem allowed to learn about the sport called football from the position of Manchester United’s starting XI.
when nani is in form he is quite impressive but the only problem with that is we have 3 players in park, nani, valencia who can really only play on the right as they are not very good with their weak foot at crossing from the left
Great Nani!
The Only problem is that we already have Valencia on the right side :O
Hope Fergie will fix the problem.
I really don’t understand this obsession with the “weak left foot” of Nani and Valencia when Evra is very, very, very left-footed and overlaps ALL the time. Whoever plays on the left in front of Patrice is going to be more of an “inside left” than an out-and-out winger.
I hate harkening back to Ronaldo’s game but he used to play on the left, cut inside and smack the ball with his right foot – he might have been more two-footed than either Nani or Valencia but he was not, by any means, “ambipedic”. Giggs survived OK by using his right foot for balance while Sir Davey used his left foot for balance and I don’t recall too much grumbling about those guys when they played on the wings. So, remembering what they did, let’s not set impossibly high expectations for Nani/Valencia. They’re both terrific footballers – fast, strong, skilful – the key is getting them into positions where they feel confident and comfortable.
For what it’s worth, I’d actually prefer to see Valencia play that “left inside” role, ahead of Patrice Evra, and let Nani blossom on the right wing.
I think SAF has put the fear of God into him. By leaving him out and shaping up to ship him out. Nani has come to realise that you don’t fuck with the master. saf’s way or the highway….I am not Nani’s greatest fan and I will only say that 3 good games ain’t enough in a season….will sit on the Nani go/stay fence till the end of the season. See what happens
Fusilli Jerry – Da Silva’s , certainly Rafa is further on in his development for his age than Obertan. He is a bit rash to say the least but so far he has done a good job for United, even scoring twice. At least he doesn’t back out of tackles. I appreciate wingers are not noted for their tackling but most are capable. He just looks too lightweight in my opinion at the minute. I could of course be wrong .
Sir Alex Ferguson the king of phycology strikes again!
I am certainly one who didn’t think we’d see him again in a United shirt, especially not playing well in a United shirt but as long as he continues to play well keep him in the team.
I still wouldn’t shed a tear if he left during the summer transfer window and we bought in a proper left winger to balance out our wings with Valencia on the right but maybe Nani leaving is not a forgone conclusion anymore.
lets hope he plays well v arsenal
The lad has really shown his true ability in the last 3 matches. I didn’t expect that much from Nani considering his bad decision making in the past but I can proudly say all is out of my head after the latest show from him.
I know we have a problem since Valencia is also confortable on the right where Nani has shown out his true ability. I wish the gaffer finds a way that suits both. They can be rotating the wings in a match.
Bravo Nani.
this guy was fantastic today.. I hope he will consistent to show the good form..
Great result yesterday and what a performance by everyone!