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If things had been different, Ander Herrera would have been part of Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s revolution at Manchester United. Initially, at least, he was playing a central role in the Norwegian’s breakneck start as interim manager after José Mourinho’s removal from office in December 2018. But after the contract talks broke down, Herrera attributes it to “disagreements” with the Together, at the end of last season, Herrera moved to Paris Saint-Germain on a free transfer after five years at Old Trafford.
Herrera is outspoken enough to admit that he thought he would renew his deal at United before circumstances brought him to Paris. In Manchester, Solskjaer’s quest to bring the club to the top of national and European football rumors. Now, like any other follower, Herrera says he is “optimistic” for his future.
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“I’m a Ole fanatic,” Herrera told ESPN. “He has a red heart. I think they have made good decisions. There is still a way to fight for the title right now because I think Liverpool and Manchester City are very strong at the moment, but I think [Man United] are on the way
“They have made some good decisions and signed some players who can give a lot to the club.”
Herrera’s affection for United is obvious. A fierce midfielder and fighter who never shied away from the “dark arts,” he was also popular with fans and was voted the club’s Player of the Year in 2017. He was collecting winners medals in the League Cup, FA Cup, and Europa League, winning the man of the match award in a 2-0 victory over Ajax in the final.
“I will always have a little bit of United in my heart and I wish them well because the fans were amazing to me,” he says. “I will never be able to return all this love, but I wish them all the best, of course. I had an amazing five years in Manchester. I have the best memories of the club and I will never be able to return anything. All the love and affection they have given me in recent years. years “.
After more than 10 years as a professional, Herrera finally won his first league title at PSG when Ligue 1 was canceled in response to the coronavirus pandemic. He admits feeling “sad” because it was actually won in government offices rather than on the field, and it remains a source of pain that the league cannot win in England.
“A title is always a title,” says Herrera. “It is good at the end of your career to be able to say that you have won these titles, but in your mind you want to know that you won that title in that game against that team and celebrate it with your fans. We could not do it [yet]. I wanted to celebrate with our fans and my teammates.
“I haven’t won a league title since I was a professional, because in Manchester we had a chance to win some trophies, but not the Premier League, so I was anxious, but we couldn’t do it on the field.” The closest Herrera came to the Premier League was second behind Mourinho in 2018, but he says he believes the pieces are starting to come together for Solskjaer as he looks to go better.
Then there is the issue of what Man United will look like next season. Paul Pogba’s future is back in the air before the next transfer window, but Herrera would like to see the Frenchman stay and serve as the mastermind in the review of rivals Manchester City and Liverpool.
“I haven’t talked to him in a long time and I don’t know what he wants to do,” says Herrera. “It is true that every day in the newspapers we can read that he wants to leave, or that Manchester United is going to sell him, but I really don’t know what he wants to do.”
“[Pogba] He may be the best midfielder in the world. In terms of qualities, it has it all. I have never seen a midfielder who has all the qualities you can have. He can get many balls back, he can head the ball, he can score goals, he can defend himself, he can attack, he is so strong and tall.
“It’s true that since he came to the club he had some ups and downs, but when it was good, it was really good. Incredible. It was a pleasure to play with him.”
“I think all Manchester United fans want to see the best of Pogba. That can happen, and with Bruno Fernandes, I think Manchester United can do great things. Liverpool and Man City are also doing great things. It is not easy, but with Paul Bruno, Marcus [Rashford] … they can.”
If the Premier League is allowed to restart, Solskjaer’s immediate goal will be to guide his team to the top four and return to the Champions League. Meanwhile, Herrera still has a chance to win Europe’s biggest club competition if UEFA’s plan to complete the competition in August gets the green light. PSG have already booked their place in the quarterfinals after the victory over Borussia Dortmund, but Herrera has not yet convinced himself that the plan is viable.
“I still wake up every day wondering if this is true or not because sometimes it looks like a Hollywood movie,” he says. “You don’t know what will happen the next day and it’s kind of crazy.”
“I have read that some of the teams in Spain, Italy and Germany have returned to training, or at least are doing the tests and all the medical equipment, but we have no news because in France, the prime minister has said that it is not possible to have sporting events until September.
“I think even the club is pretty lost in this situation and they don’t know what to do. If we go back now we have almost three months before we have to play the Champions League games, it’s crazy. I think we will come around July, Something like this, training for a month and preparing for the Champions League, but I’m not optimistic. I’m not optimistic because as soon as there is a case, I think everything will be over. I hope I’m wrong, honestly. “
Ander Herrera enjoys life at PSG, although they have been denied the chance to lift the Ligue 1 title and are still waiting to find out if they can continue in the Champions League.
Despite developing a reputation for shooting themselves in the foot in the knockout rounds of the Champions League, PSG is among the favorites to lift the trophy if the remaining matches can be played. And, according to Herrera, it is rightly after a season during which he has seen Neymar and Kylian Mbappe up close.
“It is not common to play with two of the five best players in the world,” he says. “That is why I am so sad to be at home and not play every weekend. Marquinhos, Thiago Silva is the captain of Brazil, Marco Verratti, [Angel] Say Maria [Edinson] Cavani: We have players who can fight for the Ballon d’Or every year.
“I remember about three weeks before this situation came, I spoke to Neymar and we were having dinner and I told him that I have never been happier since I came to Paris. He said that he has never felt as good as now with the team and the group. So if one of the best players in the world, one who can change games and bring you a trophy, if he tells you that, imagine how I felt. I was very optimistic. I think it’s time to do it. “Something really massive can happen to the club and for the team. “
Source: espn.co.uk
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