Schneiderlin ready to sink his teeth into the new season
Morgan Schneiderlin’s Manchester United career got off to an inconspicuous start last season – but the France midfielder is hoping his pre-season diet of football has done enough to impress new boss Jose Mourinho.
Schneiderlin is about to welcome one more competitor into United’s midfield as the Paul Pogba transfer saga inches ever close to completion.
And while the 26-year-old was by no means a disaster after signing from Southampton last year, nor did he prove a lockpick from midfield after the Reds scored just 49 times from 38 Premier League games in 2015/16.
But he is one of the freshest players to emerge from Euro 2016 at United – never making the pitch as an unused substitute – and the £25m man has never been more hungry to show what he can do.
“I’m going to fight for my place every day and we will see what is going to be,” he said. “But, of course, I want to play. Like I said, I’m hungrier after last season, it was not the season I expected and I want to prove myself. I want to eat football!
“I’m feeling good. I had a short break after the Euros. It was 15 days. I didn’t lose too much fitness, which is quite good to start the season. I didn’t play a lot in the Euros so I didn’t lose a lot of energy, even if the training was intense. I feel great, even if I know I still have two days before an important game, and I will improve as the weeks go on.”
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Sunday’s Community Shield clash with Leicester City will be the first chance to win over Mourinho, though it is just a trinket compared to the riches United are used to winning.
However, Schneiderlin believes victory would be an important first step under the new regime.
“It’s a serious trophy,” added the Frenchman. “The manager has made us aware of the fact that he wants to win it. So we know that it is very important. We are playing the champions of England.
“We want to show we are there and we are ready to go in the Premier League. What better way to start than by lifting a trophy?”
