Man United speed king: My “niggling” back problem hindered me last season

Manchester United winger Antonio Valencia has revealed the reasoning behind ditching the Old Trafford club’s iconic number seven shirt, but insists that he didn’t succumb to the pressure of the shirt. Valencia reverted back to his old number 25 shirt in the summer, following an indifferent season with the number seven on his back. However he says that the move was simply due to the good fortune that he experienced in his early days at the club, rather than any kind of added pressure wearing a number seven shirt that has also been worn by the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo, David Beckham and George Best.

“It was more to do with the fact that 25 was the number I had when I first came to the club and I played well wearing that,” said Valencia.

“So I thought ‘why don’t I go back to 25?’ I had good times and good fortune in that shirt.”

“There is no negative reason as to why I changed. I don’t want people to think I wasn’t doing my job for the team because of any added pressure of wearing the No.7 shirt. I suppose I set the bar high in 2012, and then I had a niggling problem with my back, which didn’t allow me to train properly.”

“There is no sign of that now. I feel great, and have been able to train to my maximum and put in 100 per cent. That has been paying dividends in games, and I feel my fortune has changed going back to the 25 shirt.”