Manchester United captain Gary Neville has praised the Premier League champions’ wingers Nani and Antonio Valencia. The pair started a rare game together against Portsmouth at the weekend, and the 34-year-old Old Trafford stalwart suggests the attacking pair can be a brilliant option for Sir Alex Ferguson.
While Valencia has been brilliant throughout his debut season, Nani in particular has enjoyed a renaissance in the last three weeks with starring performances against Hull City and Arsenal, and Neville believes Manchester United are finally seeing the best of a player that had previously too often flattered to deceive at Old Trafford.
Neville claims that Nani, like his compatriot Cristiano Ronaldo, has taken time to settle at Old Trafford, but that now he is comfortable at the club, Manchester United are ready to see the best of him.
The Manchester United captain is quoted by the Daily Mail saying: “He has incredible ability, and when he performs like he did against Arsenal he is unstoppable.”
“Players like Nani, who have such high skill levels, rely on confidence.”
“We hope the level of performance, commitment, determination and skill he has shown in the last few games can be maintained until the end of the season because he’s a match winner for us.”
“I think Nani can be anything he wants to be. People expect so much from young players, but it sometimes takes time.”
“It took time for Cristiano Ronaldo to settle in at United as well.”
“It’s happening at the right time for us.”
The Manchetser United legend also praised summer signing Antonio Valencia suggesting the former Wigan Athletic midfielder has settled in brilliantly at the club.
Neville said: “Antonio Valencia has been fantastic this season,”
“He's powerful, strong and quick. He can beat a man, he gets crosses in and he has a fantastic physique. “
“When we have all our players fit we are a very strong squad that can attack in different directions with different players.”
“Valencia wasn't known for scoring goals at Wigan, but he has bagged a few for us this year.”
'At United you will always get great opportunities to score if you play in forward positions because we attack a lot. But he is also got himself into those attacking areas and finished well - he has a great shot on him.