Manchester United’s new midfield man Morgan Schneiderlin has had a huge step-up in his career starting this summer. The £25m midfielder is relishing the chance to be a part of the biggest club in the world. Having moved to Southampton in the summer of 2008, Schneiderlin found himself in League One. Now, as he prepares to represent Manchester United in the Champions League, the Frenchman has insisted his past has left him very level-headed.
The full interview below has been sourced direct from The Daily Mail.
“All my life, I have been working for this moment to happen,” said Schneiderlin.
“Before, I could have moved but I was not physically ready when I was younger. Now I am 25, with the experience I have behind me, it’s a good step up for me. There are new players, good players, a good club with a good structure. I can’t wait to show what I can do.”
“I went to Southampton when they were in the Championship and the target was to get in the Premier League – and they went down! That was the best thing to happen to me.”
“It toughened me up physically and mentally. Going into League One could have made me sad or worried about my future. But I was strong mentally and I was surrounded by good people who made me understand how I had to get better. I’m really grateful for that.”
“I grew up with the club at Southampton. I learned a lot in my League One and Championship days, and it was the best thing for me to grow with the club. I am a better player than I was a few years ago and I’m ready for Manchester.”
Speaking at the launch of United’s partnership with Marathonbet at Old Trafford, he said: “In four weeks in Manchester I have done more media and commercial activities than I did in eight years at Southampton! It makes you realise straightaway how big it is. It’s nice. It’s part of the job to be a football player.”
“Of course, you play in front of more fans but, after that, it is a football game. In a football game the size of the pitch stays the same, it’s as simple as that. There is more expectation on you, more focus on your performance, but it doesn’t scare me.”
“My debut was a special moment. I tried to put it out of my mind. I needed to be focused on the game, to have a good performance. The team performance wasn’t the best, we know that. We know we can still progress and will progress. The most important thing was a win to start with, so it was probably the perfect result.”