Interviews

United cult hero reveals heartbreaking United exit

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Ander Herrera was a cult hero during his five years at Manchester United and speaking to the club’s official podcast, the Spaniard revealed how emotional it was for him to leave Old Trafford. The midfielder made a total of 189 appearances for United and scored 20 goals for the club [Man Utd]. 

Herrera, who was a fans favourite because of his work rate and his desire to leave everything out on that pitch, joined United from Athletic Bilbao at the start of the 2014-15 season under Louis van Gaal and he racked up 26 appearances in his debut season, scoring six times and registering four assists [Transfermarkt], which is a decent run for a midfielder in his first full season in English football.

However, over the next four seasons, he only managed to make over 30 appearances in the Premier League once, which was in the 2016/17 season under Jose Mourinho as he was hampered by injuries, but whenever he was called upon, he did an effective job for the club.

The 2016/17 season was a particular special one for the 33-year-old because he won the Sir Matt Busby Player of the Year award and he beat the likes of Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Antonio Valencia to win the award [Daily Mail].

His final year for the club was the 2018/19 season where he played under Mourinho and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and there was a period under the Norwegian where Herrera played regularly for United before he was forced off because of injury in the 0-0 draw against Liverpool in February 2019, which was the last time we saw the Spaniard play consistently for the Reds. His last full 90 minutes for United came in the 1-1 draw against Chelsea at Old Trafford [Transfermarkt].

In 2019, he left United and in the podcast he talks about how difficult a decision it was to leave Manchester.

“To leave, it was difficult because six months before, five months before, I was expecting that offer for me to stay,” he explains. 

“I don’t want to, it’s not the moment to talk bad about anyone and I am not going to do it, but after my third season with the club I expected a little bit more from the club at that time. I got the Player of the Year award by the fans and the club didn’t call me that summer to sign a new contract, and they did with other players. That was painful for me, honestly. 

“I think I deserved it and they didn’t do it. After, the conditions changed because I was not happy with that little moment with the club. People go through the club but the club and the badge stays the same, so I could never say one bad word about the club because I am so, so thankful. 

“But that was a little bit painful. At the end of the third season, three titles, Player of the Year, and they didn’t call me in the summer so I was feeling a bit down. And after, they called me when I had one year left on the contract and the things, they were not right for me. I fight for the club until the last day, no problem at all, I respected my contract until the last day. But they didn’t come at the right moment in my opinion, and in my agent’s opinion, and in my family’s opinion as well” [Man Utd].

On social media, United posted a video of Herrera discussing his last image at Old Trafford and he broke down in tears when he was asked about how emotional it felt to leave United and his emotions shows just how much the club meant to him.

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