Antonio Valencia is one of a dwindling number of players at Manchester United have played under both Sir Alex Ferguson and Jose Mourinho. Indeed, Sunday’s EFL Cup final with Southampton only featured three players that featured under the Scot, the other two being David De Gea and Chris Smalling, but after the fractured reigns of David Moyes and Louis van Gaal, Valencia believes that the mood around the club starting to feel like it did under Ferguson.
When asked to compare the mood around the club during Mourinho and Ferguson’s time in charge, Valencia, in quotes carried by Metro, said: “I think it’s the same atmosphere. We have that security of playing under a top manager. It’s something you can definitely say. I think a lot has changed. The atmosphere, we play with more confidence, with more happiness and with more responsibility.
“When you bring in new players, top-quality players, that changes the atmosphere of the team. I think we’re a lot more happy. We still have that responsibility on our shoulders, but a lot has changed. I think we have to create the fear factor ourselves and we have to put the fear into teams when they come to Old Trafford.”
