Exclusive: United feels like home for Lindelof

The 25-year-old Sweden international sat down with us to reflect on his time at Old Trafford so far, while also discussing his budding partnership with Harry Maguire and his hopes for the future under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer...

Congratulations on your new contract Victor, how delighted are you to be committing your future here for the next years?
"Thank you. Of course I’m very, very happy. I’ve always felt at home at this club so I’m really happy to extend my contract."

How do you look back on your time here so far?
"It’s been good. I think I’ve developed as a player a lot and also as a person so it’s been a good few years for me. I’ve learnt a lot and hopefully I can learn even more in the future as well."

In what ways have you developed as a player and a person?
"I think I’ve matured a bit more in my way of playing and upped my game a little bit more. Also, the things that I’m good at I’m even better now than I was before. Then, as a person, the club have helped me a lot, as have the players, and I think I’m a better person now."

You’re only 25 but you now have another few years ahead of you here to develop even more…
"I hope [I can develop] a lot, I want to be even better and I want to help the team win trophies and games. I want to improve and be even better than I am today, that’s my main goal, and I know I have to work very hard to achieve that. I think I’m at the right club to do that."

Are there any particular matches you look back on as being stand-out from your time here?
"There are a lot of good games. I’ve said before every game at Old Trafford is very special. To put on the shirt and walk out there with our fans is an amazing feeling and something that you look forward to. I can’t really pick one game, it’s very difficult."

Your one United goal was an important one and you got one for your country recently – can we expect to see some more from you over the next few years?
"I hope so! I hope I can contribute with a goal now and then. It’s always fun to score goals because I don’t do it so often anymore. I used to do it when I was younger but now I don’t score a lot but it’s always fun."

Ole has spoken very highly of you since he joined – how important a role has he played in your deal and how excited are you to be part of his vision for the club going forward?
"He’s very important. He’s been great since he arrived at the club and I think we’re on a good path and I think the future looks good for us. We need to keep working hard and listen to all the coaching staff and hopefully we can do good things together."

What do you hope to achieve over the next few years?
"Of course my biggest goal is to win trophies. As a player for this club it should always be your goal to win trophies, so that’s my main objective and goal. Right now we have to improve every day and you have to work hard to achieve that."

Is lifting a trophy or two something you picture at United?
"Yes that would be amazing and, like I said, that’s why I came here in the first place, to win big things. I think we have a very good squad and hopefully I’m able to do that [win trophies] in the future."

We’ve seen you alongside Harry Maguire so far this season in the Premier League – how promising is that partnership and how good is it to play alongside him?
"It’s been good. We’ve only had a few games together so every game we can play together it’s a good thing for us because with a partnership you need to play games to get to know each other more and more. If we can play together more and more hopefully we can become even better."

Do you think you complement each other in terms of your styles of play?
"Yes. I think he’s a great player and we help each other a lot on the pitch. You have to do that because as centre-backs you need to know that your partner has your back and he needs to think the same from me."

Another player who has put pen to paper is the man behind you, David De Gea. How big a deal is that for Manchester United?
"It’s a great thing. In my opinion he’s the best goalkeeper in the world so it’s a great thing to have him here at the club and it’s like security to know that he’s always behind you."

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