Antonio Valencia poses with a football during United's home kit photoshoot

The United Review interview: Antonio Valencia

Friday 13 April 2018 09:00

Antonio Valencia says there has been "a great vibe" around the Manchester United dressing room after last weekend's derby comeback and the full-back insists it's another positive to build on for next season.

After overcoming top-of-the-table City last weekend, the Reds will face bottom-placed West Bromwich Albion on Sunday at Old Trafford, with Jose Mourinho's men looking to finish the season as strongly as possible.

Valencia reflects on the derby win during a sit-down interview with United Review that will appear in Saturday's official matchday programme, talking about the confidence it has given the squad.

"After the game on Saturday it was a fantastic feeling and, two days later, when you come back into training, it still felt brilliant and that great vibe stays with you," he says. "You carry it into the next training sessions, which is what we’ve done.

"I think we’ve done really well in key games. Those good results and performances only serve to motivate us even more for the rest of this season and especially for next season as well. It's like a message that we’re sending to ourselves and it has extra motivation for us. It reinforces the fact we have a great squad, a great team and a strong dressing room ahead of the next season, which will hopefully be a great one for us."
The United Review interview
Antonio Valencia says

"We have a great squad, a great team and a strong dressing room ahead of the next season, which will hopefully be a great one for us."

The United Review interview
Antonio Valencia says

"We’ve scored more goals, picked up more points, conceded less and I think we’ve played better. You want to take that forward into next season."

Mourinho pointed out recently that his side have made very positive steps forward this term, with more points snared, more goals scored and fewer goals conceded.

Valencia feels the team have made important progress, which the Reds will aim to build on further in 2018/19.

"I think it’s positive thoughts throughout when you look back on things," he declares. "We’ve scored more goals, picked up more points, conceded fewer and I think we’ve played better. You want to take that forward into next season and try to put things right that maybe haven’t gone so well this season and improve upon results in games.

"We want to win even more games and not slip up in the type of the matches where we might have slipped up this season. All that considered, it’s looking good for next season and let’s hope we can be fighting for every trophy that’s available to us."

Read the full exclusive interview with Antonio in Sunday's United Review.

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