Manchester United Under-21 coach Warren Joyce has revealed that goalkeeper Victor Valdes recently delivered an inspirational speech to his teammates by telling the story of a father who runs marathons with his disabled son.
The Spaniard, who signed for the Red Devils on an 18-month deal earlier this month, was asked to give a motivational talk at the club's Carrington training complex.
With video clips in hand, Valdes told the story of American man Dick Hoyt and his son Rick, who suffers from cerebral palsy, and how the pair competed in more than 1,000 marathons.
Joyce told the Daily Mail: "The boy asks his dad to run and the dad says yes. The next clip he says 'can we do a triathlon?' and they do the Ironman.
"So dad pushes him for the run, he's got him in a dinghy as he swims and the last bit he's got him on the front of a bike. The meaning at the end is - don't anybody say I can't. I can. I played the video and he talked through it - it was brilliant."
The pair have taken part in 255 triathlons and 72 marathons.
Danielle Joynson
