Valencia: United's Approach Different Thanks To Last Season

Antonio Valencia has hailed the attitude of this current United team and reckons the ability to bounce back from defeat is what keeps them successful.

“I think that this attitude, concentration and mental strength are down to the manager and every day that he’s there,” he said. “Win or lose, you are in the next day, and you train every day and you want to win every day. If you lose a game one day, the next day you can’t afford to mope around because there’s another game in a couple of days. I think that’s the mindset of the team and of everything that Manchester United does.”

Valencia reckons that losing the title on goal difference last season has totally changed their approach this season. At least something positive has come from that Aguero goal, with United now 12 points clear at the top of the table.

“It’s very different because of what happened last season,” he said. “I don’t know if it was about the total disbelief that we could miss out on the league on goal difference, but when you lose the title like that it’s a really bitter blow to suffer. So now in every game and every training session everyone is even more focused and fully concentrated on playing well and applying ourselves to the task of regaining the league title.”

When asked how Manchester United manage to sustain their success, competing for the title every year, Valencia believes the manager deserves the credit.

“First and foremost it would be the manager, and his 26 years in the job,” he said. “In addition it’s the day to day work that goes on constantly within the club to make Manchester United what it is.”

Valencia was speaking at the launch of the no. 7-inspired Manchester United Collection which is available from www.nike.com.