At least it's something to celebrate! Clean sweep for Valencia at United awards bash

Manchester United may have ended the season empty handed, but for Antonio Valencia there was a small personal triumph with which to console himself.



The winger, who cost United £16million when he moved to Old Trafford from Wigan in 2009, was named both fans' and players' player of the year as well as scooping the goal of the season award for his strike against Blackburn in April.



Valencia was presented with the Sir Matt Busby award after polling 37 per cent of a vote on the club's official website.



Clean sweep: Antonio Valencia won all three of the main prizes at Manchester United's end of season do

He is the eighth overseas player to win the award since 1988, following in the footsteps of Eric Cantona, Ruud van Nistelrooy, Andrei Kanchelskis, Javier Hernandez, Nemanja Vidic, Gabriel Heinze and Cristiano Ronaldo.



'I am very happy to receive all three awards,' Valencia said. 'After last night, the longest night of my life, I will take heart from this.



'There should be 20 of these awards because all of my team-mates deserve one. I'd like to thank them and to thank my fans at home in Ecuador and Manchester United fans everywhere.'

Wayne Rooney finished as runner-up with 24 per cent, while Paul Scholes, who it was announced would play on another year, came third with 12 per cent.

Speaking at the event, Rooney insisted Manchester United will bounce back from Sunday's crushing Premier League title disappointment.



For a few precious seconds following the final whistle at Sunderland, United thought they had retained their crown and secured a 20th league championship, only for their dreams to be dashed by Sergio Aguero's stoppage-time winner for Manchester City.



It left United on 89 points, but condemned to runners-up spot on goal difference. Already Rooney is looking ahead to next season and the chance to reclaim the title.

Lads night out: Some of the players bought girlfriends (including Phil Jones, Federico Macheda and David de Gea - all above), while Ashley Young, Danny Welbeck and Tom Cleverley arrived with their team-mates

He said: 'Sunday was a difficult day for everyone. One minute you think we have won the title, then we haven't, which was heartbreaking. That is how it goes sometimes. We have to believe in ourselves.



'We have to look forward to next season and hopefully we can win some trophies next season. I am sure we will be back. We all believe in ourselves.'



Rooney has no doubt where it all went wrong for the Red Devils as they tossed away an eight-point lead with just six games remaining.



'The biggest disappointment was the Everton game,' he said. 'To be 4-2 up, with 10 minutes to go and to lose that lead is disappointing.

Bouncebackability: Wayne Rooney delivered a speech to his down-trodden team-mates

'But there are a lot of young players in the team. That is only going to benefit them. They will learn from that.'



That view was shared by central defender Rio Ferdinand.



'Sunday was a crazy day of emotions,' he said. 'I thought we had almost bagged it but then the impossible happened. We have to dust ourselves down and make sure we are in the right frame of mind.



'We have experienced players in the squad. We all have to learn and be stronger. You have to be together during the good times and the bad.'



