Ander Herrera says Jose Mourinho has told him he can be an “important player” for Manchester United in a deeper position this season.
United manager Mourinho used Herrera in a more defence-minded role alongside Marouane Fellaini in a 4-2-3-1 formation when they beat Bournemouth 3-1 on Sunday.
Paul Pogba’s arrival has intensified the competition for places in midfield but Herrera told MUTV: “I have spoken with the manager and we are agreed that I can be an important player for the team and that I can help the team in that position.
“I think I can win a lot of balls back for the team. I felt really, really good [against Bournemouth] and not only with the ball, but also without it.”
Herrera, who joined United two years ago during Louis van Gaal’s first summer in charge, said there is a positive atmosphere at the club.
“If you can see our training sessions, every day, you feel something special,” he said. “Everyone is happy. We want to play as quickly as possible, we want to keep winning games, and we want to be top of the table.
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“I remember before the game against Bournemouth, the manager said if we score one goal then we have to try to score the second goal because we want to be top of the table right now.”
Discussing Pogba’s arrival, Herrera added: “We are so lucky because we have him. When you think about the best players in the world, they are very good, but maybe they are very good at specific things — but Paul is good at everything so we are going to enjoy him.”
The options at United’s disposal in attack are so strong that Mourinho left Henrikh Mkhitaryan out of the starting lineup in the Community Shield game against Leicester and the Premier League opener against Bournemouth.
Mourinho brought Mkhitaryan in from Borussia Dortmund this summer but the boss says he will not give his own signings preferential treatment.
“When some managers buy players, they feel they have to protect their choices by playing the player all the time,” he said. “I am not like this. Before me, comes the team and what I think is best for the team.
“I keep saying the same thing, though, that Mkhitaryan is a super football player and will give us a lot during the season.”
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