Fans are the heartbeat of Old Trafford
Scott McTominay has spoken passionately about the Old Trafford crowd, during a specially arranged fans' conference at Carrington.
The Manchester United midfielder answered questions posed by supporters at our training base, ahead of the home game with Burnley in the Carabao Cup fourth round on Wednesday night.
It allowed the Scotland international to express just how much playing in front of the dedicated fans means to him, and the rest of Erik ten Hag's squad.
Scott McTominay's Fans' Conference
Scott McTominay has held a very special conference with United supporters from all around the world...
Replying to MUDSA's Rick Clement, McTominay said: "Whenever a new manager comes in, the people in the stadium, especially with the manager we've got now, are going to be so happy and are going to love seeing the football we're playing.
"We’ve had some amazing games at Old Trafford this year, where they literally are the heartbeat of the entire place. It’s electric and, of course, listening to it and I don’t care what anyone says, you do listen to the crowd when you’re playing, you can hear them, pushing you and pushing you. It makes such a difference.
"In the big games we’ve had this year, Arsenal and Liverpool for example, they are massive games, and we have needed that extra push sometimes when the lads have been a little bit tired and it’s difficult. Obviously, the fans do play a massive part.”
Expanding on the theme, when asked by Mohammad Yassin from the Egyptian Supporters' Club about how Old Trafford feels different this season, the homegrown midfielder appreciates the responsibility is on the players to lift the crowd from the outset, something he will be looking to do when we take on Burnley this week and Nottingham Forest, in our Premier League return, on 27 December.
“I feel like the managers and the coaches are the ones saying give the crowd what they want," he added. "Give the people something to lift them off their seats. Make sure you are doing everything that is beneficial to bringing the crowd with us on the journey. It’s important we listen to that, most definitely.
"Even before games, we can hear the crowd. Sometimes, before, even when we’re putting on our socks and shin-pads, you can feel a great atmosphere building in the stadium. For us, it’s the most important thing. Some of the guys have even stopped to say listen to what we have to go out to here, we have to perform and give them what they want. I think, for us, it’s one of the most important things.
"We’ve got the best fans in the world – home and away – that’s for sure.”