In a larger interview with United.no Former United player Ander Herrera opens up about his five years at Manchester United.
The Spaniard, who currently plays for the Athletic Club in his home country, touches on several topics during his time in Manchester, but the most interesting from the Norwegians’ point of view is when he talks about his time under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.
Herrera didn’t get much time with the Norwegian coach, but he did play 16 games under former Molde coach before leaving for Paris Saint-Germain.
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The midfielder said several times in the interview that he follows his former club closely, and that he has now shifted into the role of a United fan.
When asked if he felt the club was on the right track, the 33-year-old brought up Solskjær’s name of his own.
– Even with Ole… I mean, he did good stuff. He was about to win titles. I think he’s one of the best footballers I’ve met. He gave everything for the club and people know that. But he was unlucky to take the next step by winning at Manchester United. Now with Ten Hag I feel about the same. He’s close to making history and that’s all United fans want. We want him to win titles,” Herrera told United.no.
– He loved every player
Since Sir Alex Ferguson (81) left the club in 2013, the club has had six different managers – with little success.
In the 22/23 season, a record number of managers were sacked in the Premier League. A total of 15 (!) People had to leave their posts in the English Premier League.
Herrera says he is a football romantic who likes coaches to be given plenty of time to develop a project, but maintains that the rules of the game at a club like Manchester United are a little different.
– (Solskjær, journal.anm.) was about to win a European Cup against Villarreal. He was about to take the last step. It’s hard to pinpoint one thing that kept him from succeeding, but it was close. When I was there, every player loved it. But football is sometimes unfair. At a club like Manchester United you have to win, that’s the truth. Even though I love Ole as a person and a coach, when you don’t win, you’re out. This is how it is.
He wanted to play football in Ferguson
– What are his greatest strengths? asks journalist at United.no Eyvind Hulth.
– I remember one of the first meetings with him. It was me, Juan Mata and Solskjaer. He wanted to bring back the “rock and roll of football”. Ball possession was not important to him. Of course he wanted the ball more than the opponent, but he wanted to create chances all the time, increase the pace of matches, try to create transfers and play entertaining football, as Ferguson did when he was at the club. We had the guys to do it, but he needed time. In the end, he didn’t win anything for two or three years, if I’m not mistaken, and football doesn’t wait for you, says Herrera.
The 33-year-old played a total of 189 matches for United from 2014 to 2019. He scored 20 goals, as well as 27 assists. Herrera has also represented Spain twice.
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