Antonio Valencia out for 4 Weeks; What It Means for Manchester United

The toughest period for any team vying for the top prize in English football are the months of February and March.

This period is when teams struggle to retain their form, egos explode inside the dressing rooms, and titles are seemingly lost and won by teams that falter and those who remain resilient, respectively.

Unfortunately, Manchester United have suffered a great setback as one of their talismen in Antonio Valencia got injured during the Europa League game against Ajax Amsterdam.

Valencia was on the field only for a short period of time when he pulled a hamstring and was substituted soon thereafter. News is that Valencia will be sidelined for at least four weeks.

What does this mean for Manchester United? Is the loss of Antonio Valencia as big as a loss, as say losing Wayne Rooney?

In my opinion, the answer is a resounding yes.

The injury couldn’t have come at a more sign

Ibrahimovic urges Van Persie to quit Arsenal

The Gunners captain was helpless in the San Siro on Wednesday as his side was humbled 4-0 by Ibrahimovic`s Milan, effectively ending its UEFA Champions League hopes for another year.

Its chances of qualifying for the tournament again rest largely on the shoulders of the 28-goal Netherlandsinternational, who has almost single-handedly kept Arsenal afloat this season.

Sweden striker Ibrahimovic, though has told Van Persie that if he wants to win anything, he needs to leave London, just as Barcelona`s Cesc Fabregas did before the start of this season.

He told the Sun: “When you don’t win anything for years, people understand why you leave like Cesc Fabregas.

“Football is all about winning. If you don’t win you want to go. I don’t know Robin personally but I remember him fromHolland and what a talent he was – now he is complete.

“I don’t know what he is thinking but I know what I would do.

“I have made a lot of moves in my life – I take it as a challenge, an adventure.

“And I have won eight titles in eight years with different clubs in different countries.

“But if you stay in one place all your life it is easy to play football.

“You are at home, you are in the comfort zone.

“But if you move to five different places it is a real test. If you succeed that’s when you become a real champion, that’s when you get more respect.”