No sooner was Luis Antonio Valencia’s arrival at Old Trafford announced than the press began to ask the inevitable question as to whether he would be up to the task of replacing the iconic Cristiano Ronaldo on the Red Devils’ right wing. Though United have started life in the Premier League with their new replacement relatively quietly, four games into their Champions League campaign for 2009/10 and they have already accrued as many points (10) in their group as they did in six matches in 2008/09. Opta examine Valencia’s contribution in this success compared to Ronaldo’s in the same number of games last season:
|
First four CL games (09/10) |
Manchester United |
First four CL games 08/09 |
|
Luis Antonio Valencia |
Player |
Cristiano Ronaldo |
|
4 |
Appearances |
4 |
|
346 |
Minutes played |
290 |
|
|
Goal Attempts |
|
|
2 |
Goals |
0 |
|
7 |
Total shots |
19 |
|
29% |
Shooting accuracy |
47% |
|
29% |
Goals-to-shots ratio |
0% |
|
|
Passing |
|
|
0 |
Goal assists |
1 |
|
8 |
Chances created |
7 |
|
143 |
Passes |
146 |
|
85% |
Pass completion |
80% |
|
|
Crossing |
|
|
27 |
Crosses |
27 |
|
33% |
Cross completion |
15% |
|
|
Dribbling |
|
|
16 |
Dribbles |
25 |
|
81% |
Dribble completion |
44% |
|
|
Defending |
|
|
6 |
Tackles |
1 |
|
50% |
Tackles won |
100% |
Though the ex-Wigan man has not been as prolific as Ronaldo was in the domestic league, in the Champions League he has already bagged two goals in the 2009/10 campaign – Ronaldo did not find the net until his sixth Champions League outing in 2008/09, at home to Inter Milan. Indeed, though he has also not fired in as many shots as his Portuguese counterpart, the Ecuadorian wideman has been much more deadly with his efforts, scoring the only goal of the game against CSKA in Moscow before then netting the dramatic late equalizer at Old Trafford against the same opposition.
Both players were similarly creative in these games with the Red Devils, though Valencia’s crossing has been markedly more accurate, and his dribbles tend to be more successful. Additionally he has been somewhat more involved in the defensive side of his team’s game, attempting six tackles to Ronaldo’s one over the same period.
Though it is nearly an impossible task for someone to replace a FIFA World Player of the Year, so far Valencia has been solid with his performances, and may prove key once again as United take on Besiktas at Old Trafford.
