Antonio Valencia: The Soul of a Little Bird on The Devil's Wing

Sam

Gritty winging is an art. Or rather, it was an art. Now, simulation seems a more valid than riding tackles on the wing. I’m not talking about all wingers nowadays, but I’m talking about most of them. They would rather tumble under pressure when snapped at or blocked off (and appeal for a free kick) rather than challenge the fullback and go for the gap, to make a good angle for a cross. The hard work and ethic of a winger has lately been replaced by skills and showboating. Also, most would come inside and try to shoot instead of staying outside when space is free to be run at. But, there are some gritty wingers left who know the art of riding tackles, hugging the lines, making good angles, and delivering pin-point crosses. And the jewel among that scanty bunch is a man called Antonio Valencia.

Antonio Valencia: Manchester United's Devil on the Flank

I remember watching a game in the ’08-09 season when he featured for Wigan against Man City. He scored a goal and was wonderful all-round and I couldn’t help but think that I had seen his game somewhere. His movement, stance, control, acceleration all seemed so similar to a legend whom I had only seen play in old videos. So I went to Youtube and checked some videos of the man who was responsible for the evolution in wingplay in the mid ’90s. The man’s name was Mane Fransisco Dos Santos, better known as “Garrincha” (The Little Bird), and what I saw could very well be described as my Eureka moment.

Mane Garrincha was one of the best players that Brazil had ever produced and was loved and respected all over the country. He is known all over Brazil as the “Alegria do Povo” (Joy of the People). The video (look below) I found was a stack of clips from the 1962 World cup and various other games for Botafogo, of Garrincha winging with pride, power, skill and pace. And the resemblance that Valencia’s game had to it was uncanny to say the least. Everything, from beating the first man, to his crossing, to his shooting technique and guile seemed very similar to that of the winger from Ecuador. It almost seemed like Valencia had copied most aspects of the game having watched Garrincha play. The only thing that Valencia lacked was the Brazilian’s hunger for goals. But the goals that Valencia did score for Wigan had a similar taste to that of Garrincha’s angled drives. And later, I was overjoyed when Sir Alex decided to sign Antonio up.

The "Anjo de Pernas Tortas" (Angel with Bent Legs)

I had thought that it would take him a bit of time to settle at a club like Man Utd. But dear me! I was as wrong as wrong could be! He turned out a star performer in his debut season, and was included in the PFA team of the year. And as time has progressed, he just got better and better. In his second season, his growth was a tad hampered by the fracture he suffered during the Home game versus Rangers in Europe. Yet, after being sidelined for almost half a year, he has returned as strong as ever and made six assists since comeback. His honesty, humility, determination and calmness are rare qualities in the wingers of this generation, and even though it would be downright foolish to actually compare Antonio to Garrincha, it’s clear that the Ecuadorian Magician’s wing play is made up of the same basic components as that of the legendary Little Bird. No one knows what the future holds, but if Antonio Valencia carries on like this, he may very well overshadow the gap left by his predecessor on the right wing, to become the best winger on the planet.

But for now, every time the Red Devil wearing the number 25 receives the ball on the right wing, somewhere, somehow, we can hear the chirp of a Little Bird.

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Here is another video that shows the similarity in their playing style:

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Edited by Staff Editor