Manchester United midfielder Ander Herrera has been thoroughly impressed by his team-mate and believes Antonio Valencia is currently the best right-back in the world.
Valencia, who was brought to United by Sir Alex Ferguson in 2009,A�mostly played as aA�right-back under former manager Louis van Gaal and developed A�quickly as a defender.
Herrera believes only Juventus full-back Dani Alves can be put in the same bracket as Valencia at the moment, as he rated his fellow team mate ahead ofA�Juan Fran, Dani Carvajal or Philipp Lahm.
The 31-year-oldA�has started both of Uniteda��s Premier League games at right-back this season after maintaining the fine form he showed in pre-season.
AnderA�Herrera told MUTV: “I have always liked the way he plays.”
“I know he’s not a normal right-back because he used to play as a winger but I think that, right now, he is the best right-back in the world maybe with Dani Alves, because I like Dani Alves a lot.a�?
Antonio Valencia has appeared crucial in the fresh-looking Manchester United squad. He supplied the cross to Zlatan Ibrahimovic who scored the winning goal in the Community Shield, played an influential role in Wayne Rooneya�?s strike last weekend against Bournemouth and put in another solid showing against Southampton on Friday night.
“When you have a right-back who is quick to defend and he is crossing maybe six or seven times a game, always or almost always successfully, then he understands football,” Herrara said.
“When I have the ball, I know that Antonio’s always ready to receive it, always to give you one solution.”
Matteo Darmian, After impressing in his early days and promised to be a glimmer of hope in a frustrating last season for the Red Devils. But, it doesn’t seem Red Devils’s new bose Mourinho involve him to their new plans.
With Valencia delivering greatA�performances on the pitch, Herrera believes it indicates healthy competition within the squad and considers it a sign of good things to come.
The midfielder continued as he termed Antonio Valencia “is going to be very important this season” and added: “I think I said at the end of the last season that something good is being cooked, and everyone wants to be part of that.”
Antonio Valencia adds pace and an attacking threat to the Manchester United side, he has been criticised for his lack of positioning and defensive abilities. However, under Mourino the Ecuador star has kicked on and lookedA�solid at right-back.
Mourinho will not want to risk losing his fine form ahead of a demanding schedule approaching in September.
