UTD Podcast: Will Herrera become a manager?

The 33-year-old midfielder is currently on loan at Athletic Club from parent team Paris Saint-Germain and he has his mind fixed firmly on playing the game he loves, hopefully for years to come yet. 

But when you listen to Herrera discussing football with so much enthusiasm, knowledge and passion, it is hard to imagine him walking away whenever he decides to hang up his boots. 

Ander has worked under some of the finest managers in European football and he speaks glowingly about his three former Old Trafford bosses – Louis van Gaal, Jose Mourinho and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer - during our latest UTD Podcast, which is available from 17:00 GMT on Monday.

The ex-Red has built up a wealth of experiences, but admits he is conflicted about the idea of entering management and handing the scrutiny that comes with it.

In a discussion about how competitive the Premier League has become, Herrera says: “We have to realise that now the coaches are fighting against five or six teams to win trophies. Before, Sir Alex did amazing, but it was mostly Liverpool, Arsenal and United fighting for the trophies, no? So it is not easy for [Erik] Ten Hag now to fight Tottenham, Chelsea, City, Liverpool, Arsenal and even Newcastle. It is tough to be a Manchester United coach. Maybe one day I am, but it is not easy.”

Co-host Sam Homewood picks up on that hint about a future role in management and asks whether it is something he will do. Herrera replies: “I have doubts about it. Some people, they say to me that I have to be, but also, as I say before, sometimes managers don't get the credit that they deserve. 

“No matter how much you work, no matter how many hours you spend working, working, working, after that you go to the game, you play amazing, you hit the post, the ball goes outside, you lose the game and you are responsible. If you win, the one who scores the goal takes the credit but if you lose then it doesn't matter what happened it is you.”

Whether he does become a manager or not, Herrera says he is proud to have played under so many fantastic head coaches: “I am so thankful. Even here in Spain I had Marcelo Bielsa, [Ernesto] Valverde, before that I had Marcelino, he is a great manager as well, he has reached a few important things here in football.

“In Manchester with the ones that I have already named and in Paris with [Thomas] Tuchel and [Mauricio] Pochettino. So I can takes things from all of them.”