Sports

Ander Herrera: I’m always ready when called upon

Published

7 years ago

September 13, 2017

Ander Herrera says he will be always be ready to play when called upon after making his first Premier League start of the season in the 2-2 draw at Stoke.

The midfielder – now in his fourth season at Manchester United – was named Sir Matt Busby Player of the Year by supporters last term after playing an important role in helping United win the EFL Cup and the Europa League.

Nemanja Matic’s summer arrival appears to have pushed Herrera down the pecking order at Old Trafford but the Spaniard is not perturbed by a lack of minutes this season.

“I am always ready to play,” Herrera said. “I always say the same.

“I am a team player and when the manager needs me, I will be there and that’s it. In football, there are no surprises.”

Herrera will be hoping to retain his starting place when United line up at home to Basel on Tuesday night in their first Champions League match in almost two years, having reached the competition after beating Ajax in last season’s Europa League final.

“We are ready but we have to respect every opponent and realise where we have come from,” Herrera said.

“We are a big club and maybe the biggest in the world, but we were not in the Champions League last season and we have to take it step by step.

“First aim we have is Basel. We cannot think of winning the Champions League now, we have to take it one step at a time.

“We should be in the Champions League.

“Even without the Champions League, we are the club with more fans than anybody in the world, with the biggest amount of sponsors in the world, but being in the Champions League is basic for us, that is why the game against Ajax was the game of our lives. It was certainly the game of my career.

“We want to fight for every title. Last season we won three which wasn’t bad for the club, but we did not fight for the Premier League and we were not in the Champions League, so we have to be humble and take it step by step.

“It is amazing to be back in it. Every game is amazing for Manchester United for me but the Champions League is the most beautiful competition apart from the Premier League.”