Former Manchester United winger Antonio Valencia has urged the club to keep faith with manager Michael Carrick despite a difficult start to the season. Carrick, appointed permanently in the summer, has won only one of his first six league games, leaving United 13th in the Premier League.
Valencia backs Carrick to succeed
Speaking to AS, Valencia said: “Incredible. When I had the chance to be with him, I saw him as a positive leader, a man who read the game well and controlled it.
“Then, when training was over, he’d change into different clothes and go to his coaching course. Even then, you could see what he wanted to be. He enjoyed all of this and has shown he has the ability to manage Manchester United. I truly hope he has a lot of success and that he does very well.”
Asked whether he had seen Carrick becoming a manager, Valencia added: “Yes, he’s always had a very calm, relaxed personality. When he wanted to communicate something, he always did so with great respect. He was never like that type of player who, while still studying, already thinks he’s a coach. He was never like that. He spoke to you with great respect and was very intelligent in everything he said and explained.”
Valencia open to Old Trafford return
Valencia, now 41, spent a decade at United after joining from Wigan Athletic in 2009, winning three Premier League titles under Sir Alex Ferguson. He retired in 2021 and has previously said he would be open to returning to the club.
Speaking in the summer, he said: “Yes, I would go back. Manchester United is a club that gave me so much. My family was very happy there. I would work for Manchester United in any role, out of passion. It is a club I love a lot. I think everything they are doing is going well. But if they called me, I would go running.”
United return to action in midweek against Atletico Madrid in the Champions League, before facing Leeds United at Elland Road in the Premier League.
