Ander Herrera.

Herrera: Why I refuse to check the league table

Monday 04 February 2019 12:00

Manchester United moved up the Premier League table on Sunday, following the 1-0 win at Leicester City and Arsenal's 3-1 defeat at Manchester City, yet that is news to Ander Herrera as he continues to ignore the latest standings in an effort to focus on the next match.

The Spaniard is delighted with the team’s form following a 10-match unbeaten run that has included nine wins across all competitions under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.

Our no.21 is not getting carried away by the increased momentum and, as he told reporters on Sunday, the table is not receiving any of his attention.  

“It’s something that I am forcing myself to do,” he explained. “Let’s go game by game. I think it will be a big mistake if we think further than Fulham [on Saturday].

"Fulham is a massive game for us because I think Chelsea is playing City. So let’s go game by game, because you lose one game and then you regret. So let’s go for Fulham, and then we will think about PSG.”

Highlights: Leicester 0 United 1 Video

Highlights: Leicester 0 United 1

Rashford's finish from Pogba's pass earned a vital Premier League win at the King Power Stadium in 2019...

Herrera has become a particularly integral player under Solskjaer as part of a combative midfield three, alongside Nemanja Matic and Paul Pogba, and the trio all impressed once again during the weekend’s hard-earned victory at the King Power Stadium

“It’s something the managers are working a lot on,” Herrera explained following the win at Leicester. “They are very focused on it and insisting a lot in the work between us three to let the others players feel free. Even Paul can feel free if Nemanja and me work together well. But it’s not only us. 

“I think Andreas can help, Scott can help, and Fred has a lot of quality and he can help as well. Of course, I cannot lie: I’m feeling good; I feel good with them. I feel that we work good together, but we have a big squad and now we have a very busy schedule and we are going to need everyone.”
Asked if he is playing the best football of his United career so far, Herrera was quick to point out his award-winning 2016/17 season but also admitted he is performing well under Solskjaer.  

“I got the Player of the Year two years ago so I have to think about that as well!” he said. “But I feel very good at the moment and I feel in form. I feel that I can run a lot, I can recover the ball and I feel good when I have it on my feet. But I have always said the same: if, one day, the manager decides to drop me, I will be ready to help the team for 10 minutes, 12 minutes or even two minutes. 

“I think that’s the way one team can be successful. The other day I had to be on the bench, Andreas played, and maybe one day Paul has to be on the bench. This is a squad and, in my opinion, a very strong squad. Of course, I am so happy with my moment in the team, but I cannot go crazy with that. The successful seasons are made by the squad, not only by 11, 12 or 13 players.”
Solskjaer's verdict on the win at Leicester Video

Solskjaer's verdict on the win at Leicester

Solskjaer has praised his players - including Rashford and Pogba - in our interview following the win at Leicester...

On the subject of Solskjaer and how the club legend is inspiring the players, Herrera continued:  "Ole is very happy I think with my work. He’s giving me a lot of confidence – he knows I can help the team with the ball but also without the ball, to get the ball back as soon as possible.

"I think he knows I can work to make other players feel free, and I will do it. I feel very good, but it is not only me. I think everyone’s feeling good. Also the players that come from the bench helped. Anthony and Romelu helped a lot, and also Jonah [Phil Jones] when he came as a right-back. I feel very good, but I think everyone is feeling like that."

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