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Valencia backs under-fire Carrick to succeed at Manchester United despite 13th-place start

Antonio Valencia has urged Manchester United to keep faith with manager Michael Carrick, who has won just one of his opening six Premier League games, leaving the club 13th in the table.

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Valencia backs under-fire Carrick to succeed at Manchester United despite 13th-place start
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Antonio Valencia has publicly backed Michael Carrick to turn around Manchester United’s troubled start to the season, despite the manager winning only one of his first six Premier League fixtures and sitting 13th in the table.

Carrick, who was handed the job on a permanent basis in the summer, is facing mounting pressure from supporters and pundits alike after a run of results that stands in stark contrast to the form that persuaded the Old Trafford hierarchy to appoint him. Valencia, however, insists he saw the makings of a manager in his former teammate long before Carrick ever took a dugout.

“Incredible,” Valencia told AS. “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.”

The Ecuadorian, now 41, spent a decade at United after joining from Wigan Athletic in 2009 and won three Premier League titles under Sir Alex Ferguson before retiring in 2021. He was effusive about Carrick’s character and communication style, describing him as calm, respectful, and intelligent — qualities he believes will serve the manager well.

“He spoke to you with great respect and was very intelligent in everything he said and explained,” Valencia added. “He was never like that type of player who, while still studying, already thinks he’s a coach. 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.”

Valencia also reiterated his own desire to one day return to Old Trafford in some capacity. “I would go back. Manchester United is a club that gave me so much,” he said. “I would work for Manchester United in any role, out of passion. If they called me, I would go running.”

United face Atlético Madrid in the Champions League in midweek before a Premier League trip to Leeds United at Elland Road.

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