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Ole Gunnar Solskjaer: Manchester United winger Antonio Valencia could be as good as David Beckham
Winger must be a pleasure to play alongside...
9 Mar 2010 11:02:00
By Zack Wilson
Manchester United striking legend Ole Gunnar Solskjaer thinks that winger Antonio Valencia has proved to be one of Sir Alex Ferguson's shrewder acquisitions this season.
The Norwegian envies the current United strikers who are handed the opportunity to play alongside the Ecuadorean, who joined from Wigan Athletic for £16 million in the summer.
Solskjaer also feels that it is fair to compare Valencia's delivery from wide areas with that of David Beckham.
"Antonio is a striker's dream. He is also a manager's dream," Solskjaer told The Manchester Evening News.
"He works hard and he does his bit defensively. He doesn't just do the flash bits. He keeps the team shape when he doesn't have the ball and attempts to win it back.
"He has something special because he has pace and he has a delivery. I can understand the comparisons between Becks' service and what Antonio is providing now. The work ethic of both players is the same. Their first thought is to put in a dangerous effort for the strikers to feed off.
"Just like with David, you know when Antonio is going to cross the ball. He doesn't dilly-dally, as soon as he can, he is going to cross it. He puts his head down and you know it is going to come in.
"It is just what you want. You can get that half-second ahead of a defender because you can make your move early knowing virtually where the ball is going to end up. It gives you a great advantage.
"Wayne Rooney will be experiencing that now. You get a little feeling about where the ball is going to go. You get to know your team-mates and you know what they will do when they get the ball. Wayne knows exactly what Antonio's first thoughts will be."
And Solskjaer believes that Wayne Rooney's goal tally this season has much to do with the improved service the England man is receiving from the right flank.
"Wayne has been hitting it off with Antonio recently. And whoever has been up front will know that they can expect a ball in that will cause defences problems and you give an edge," he added.
"As a striker you want to find space. That is your best friend in the box. So to find that space you have to have an understanding with those putting the crosses in. You have to have a strong inkling about what they will do.
"When I played with Becks I knew him inside out. I knew when he got the ball his first idea was to put the ball in the vicinity of whoever was playing up front.
"Becks didn't think about doing something special for the crowd. He just wanted to deliver the ball in efficiently and for one of us to score a goal. So many of my goals came from an assist from him.
"That is just what Antonio is doing now. It is great to see him finding his feet here and Wayne more than anyone is benefiting.
"Wayne has always been a team player. But now he can see that we need goals. As a striker you smell goals and he is maturing into a goalscorer."
Meanwhile, the man who won a Champions League medal with United in 1999 is still expecting one of his former team-mates to perhaps exert a decisive influence on the second leg of the Red Devils' last-16 Champions League tie with Milan on Wednesday.
"Becks is always a danger. He will be a massive threat tomorrow," he warned.
"In open play you know he is going to get four or five chances in a match to put a great cross in. If you have a striker who is alive then there is danger."
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The Norwegian envies the current United strikers who are handed the opportunity to play alongside the Ecuadorean, who joined from Wigan Athletic for £16 million in the summer.
Solskjaer also feels that it is fair to compare Valencia's delivery from wide areas with that of David Beckham.
"Antonio is a striker's dream. He is also a manager's dream," Solskjaer told The Manchester Evening News.
"He works hard and he does his bit defensively. He doesn't just do the flash bits. He keeps the team shape when he doesn't have the ball and attempts to win it back.
"He has something special because he has pace and he has a delivery. I can understand the comparisons between Becks' service and what Antonio is providing now. The work ethic of both players is the same. Their first thought is to put in a dangerous effort for the strikers to feed off.
"Just like with David, you know when Antonio is going to cross the ball. He doesn't dilly-dally, as soon as he can, he is going to cross it. He puts his head down and you know it is going to come in.
"It is just what you want. You can get that half-second ahead of a defender because you can make your move early knowing virtually where the ball is going to end up. It gives you a great advantage.
"Wayne Rooney will be experiencing that now. You get a little feeling about where the ball is going to go. You get to know your team-mates and you know what they will do when they get the ball. Wayne knows exactly what Antonio's first thoughts will be."
And Solskjaer believes that Wayne Rooney's goal tally this season has much to do with the improved service the England man is receiving from the right flank.
"Wayne has been hitting it off with Antonio recently. And whoever has been up front will know that they can expect a ball in that will cause defences problems and you give an edge," he added.
"As a striker you want to find space. That is your best friend in the box. So to find that space you have to have an understanding with those putting the crosses in. You have to have a strong inkling about what they will do.
"When I played with Becks I knew him inside out. I knew when he got the ball his first idea was to put the ball in the vicinity of whoever was playing up front.
"Becks didn't think about doing something special for the crowd. He just wanted to deliver the ball in efficiently and for one of us to score a goal. So many of my goals came from an assist from him.
"That is just what Antonio is doing now. It is great to see him finding his feet here and Wayne more than anyone is benefiting.
"Wayne has always been a team player. But now he can see that we need goals. As a striker you smell goals and he is maturing into a goalscorer."
Meanwhile, the man who won a Champions League medal with United in 1999 is still expecting one of his former team-mates to perhaps exert a decisive influence on the second leg of the Red Devils' last-16 Champions League tie with Milan on Wednesday.
"Becks is always a danger. He will be a massive threat tomorrow," he warned.
"In open play you know he is going to get four or five chances in a match to put a great cross in. If you have a striker who is alive then there is danger."
| Sign up with 188BET for a FREE bet up to £25 – Great Prices, Every Game |
|
| Open an account with Sportingbet today and get up to £50 in free bets! |
|
| Sign up with William Hill for a free bet up to £25 |
|
| Sign up with bet365 for a free bet up to £200 |
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