Ander Herrera

Herrera benefiting from midfield battle

Ander Herrera insists the competition provided by experienced midfielders Bastian Schweinsteiger and Michael Carrick is driving him to perform well for Manchester United.
The Spaniard returned from injury to star in the Reds’ 3-0 win over Everton on Saturday, nodding in the second goal before sending Wayne Rooney through for the final strike of a pleasing afternoon.
Having featured to great effect in front of Morgan Schneiderlin and Schweinsteiger, United’s no.21 made way for Carrick in the 74th minute and Herrera feels his replacement’s reading of the game, along with that of the Reds’ other midfield operators, ensured it was a comfortable encounter at Goodison Park for the visitors.
“You take advantage of that,” the 26-year-old said of the competition in the middle of the park. “When you play with the best players you take advantage of that like we did. This is good for me, good for the club. I always think the same way. When the club signs top players you are going to take advantage of that and that is what I’m doing.
“You have [Schweinsteiger] and also Michael Carrick and they are very experienced guys. I think Morgan and me can learn a lot from them. I think we were very comfy and when Michael came in also the same. We are similar players. We understand football the same way.”
While Herrera is pleased with his contribution to the three points sealed on Merseyside, the midfielder was keen to stress he’ll continue working hard, as he has done over the October international break, to be the best he can be for United.
“I have trained really hard in these two weeks,” he continued. “I wanted to play as soon as possible and the manager gave me the chance. I enjoyed the chance he gave to me and I want to keep helping the team. I am a team player and when I play I will do my best.
“I scored and got an assist, so I can enjoy. I am very happy. I want to be a top player and I have to play like this always. You want to always be in the team but this is Manchester United. You have to play really good if you want to be in the team every day, so that’s what I want to do.

“I think people are happy with me and they value me because I always try to give everything for the team. I am really proud because I am at Manchester United and I will try to do my best to establish myself in the first team.”
 

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Jesse Lingard

Lingard grateful for Rooney influence

Jesse Lingard has spoken of the positive influence Wayne Rooney has had on the youngster's Manchester United career so far and the overriding effect the captain has on everyone in the dressing room.

Lingard came off the bench to make his first appearance for over a year in Saturday's 3-0 victory at Everton as the Reds ran out deserved victors.

Rooney fired United's third goal, which took him alongside club legend Andy Cole as the Barclays Premier League's second all-time top scorer on 187.

Lingard praised the skipper's qualities and discussed the inspiring impact Rooney has on the whole squad.

"He might not seem it but he’s a bubbly character," the 22-year-old told reporters. "He goes to each group like the foreigners and youngsters and has chats with everybody and tries to help everyone.

"He’s a world-class player. We see it in training every day. He’s got goals – he’s always got goals. He’s the captain and he leads the team. He sets a great example and I follow him.

"I see him as a friend now. I’ve been around him most years coming through the ranks. When I was in the Under-18s I started mixing with the first team and I saw him about. Even then he still helped me along the way as he does now.

"We have lots of quality players but he’s scored a lot of goals for the club and has helped Manchester United get where we are today."

Lingard was delighted to be back in action following his recovery from a long-term injury, suffered on his senior debut against Swansea City in August last year.

Reports had suggested the attacker might go out on loan during 2015/16, but Lingard revealed that Louis van Gaal is keen to have him involved in first-team matters this term.

"The manager told me he wanted me to stay [at the start of the season] and could see me playing games this season. I think Saturday won’t do me any harm," Lingard added. "He trusts me and I have to pay him back by playing well."
 

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Antonio Valencia

Valencia sustains foot injury in derby

Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal has confirmed Antonio Valencia picked up a foot injury during the derby-day draw with City at Old Trafford.
The Ecuadorian right-back was hurt in the first half but re-emerged for the restart and attempted to provide some spark down the flank, while defending stoutly alongside his colleagues.
Valencia played on until the 81st minute before having to admit defeat when in some pain, making way for Italy international Matteo Darmian. As such, our no.25 will presumably be considered a doubt for Wednesday night's Capital One Cup tie against Middlesbrough.
"He had a kick on his foot in the first half and then I let Darmian warm up on the touchline," van Gaal told MUTV after the final whistle. "But then he played further. However, at the end, he could not continue."
 

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Wayne Rooney

Rooney set for Old Trafford testimonial

Old Trafford will play host to a testimonial match in honour of Manchester United captain Wayne Rooney next August with all profits raised from the game going to charity.
The match will mark Rooney's 12 years at the club and is scheduled to take place on Wednesday 3 August 2016.
At the request of Rooney himself, all monies generated from the game after expenses will be distributed to his chosen charities through the newly-created Wayne Rooney Foundation, itself a registered charity. The organisations to which the testimonial proceeds will be distributed by the Foundation include the NSPCC, Alder Hey Childrens’ Hospital, Claire House Hospice and the Manchester United Foundation.
The United and England captain is already excited about his special night and delighted that it will help benefit others.
"I would like to thank everyone involved in making this testimonial become a reality," said Wayne. "Most of all I want to thank the fans for all their incredible support for me and the team since I joined the club. The match night will obviously be special for me and my family but I hope it will be a night of celebration for all involved and that we can also deliver one or two surprises.
"Most of all I hope the fans will come out in force and help raise as much money as possible for these amazing charities, all of which are very close to my heart for different reasons.”
Ed Woodward, United's executive vice chairman, added: "I am delighted that United fans will be able to celebrate Wayne's amazing years at the club in this way. From his sensational debut hat-trick to the latest of his 236 goals, he has been a central figure in what has been one of the most successful periods in the club's history, winning everything from the Club World Cup, the Champions League and League Cup, to his five Premier League titles.
"Wayne has selected good causes very close to his heart and the club is delighted to play its part, in providing Old Trafford as a fitting stage for such a game."
Ticket information: Fans can register their interest in tickets at manutd.com/testimonial.

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Young Players

Van Gaal keen to integrate young players

Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal is determined to continue integrating Academy products into his first-team squad.
The boss has been delighted with the recent impact made by Jesse Lingard, who was inches away from scoring a dramatic winner when hitting the bar in Sunday's Manchester derby, and regularly discusses which youngsters to promote with assistant manager Ryan Giggs and youth coach Nicky Butt.
Lingard and Andreas Pereira played all 120 minutes of the Capital One Cup defeat to Middlesbrough on Wednesday and the latter was the only United player to convert his penalty during the shoot-out.
"It has always been part of my own philosophy and that of the club to give opportunities to youth players," wrote the boss in his column for United Review, the official match programme.
"Jesse Lingard is one of those players who was given a chance to play in the last three matches and he has taken that opportunity to show what he is capable of and to prove that he deserves to be a member of the first-team squad.
"I have been delighted with the progress that he continues to make, along with Andreas Pereira, who played against Ipswich Town and scored his first senior competitive goal. With advice from Ryan Giggs and Nicky Butt, I regularly invite members of the development squad to train alongside the first team. It gives them a chance to step up their training and to improve their technical ability.
"A good example would be Paddy McNair. He trained a number of times with the first team, which helped him prepare physically and mentally, so that it wasn’t such a big step when he was called upon to the first team."
Order your copy of United Review, the official matchday programme, via ManUtd.com/programme.

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The United players

Gallery: United train in the Manchester mist

The United players continued preparations for the UEFA Champions League test against CSKA Moscow by training in the Manchester mist on Monday morning.
The Reds earned a 1-1 draw against the Russian side 12 days ago and know victory is vital at Old Trafford on Tuesday evening.
Phil Jones and Memphis Depay, who missed Saturday's visit to Crystal Palace, were both back in training on Monday, but did some fitness work away from the main group.
Louis van Gaal confirmed on Friday that Antonio Valencia and Paddy McNair were expected to be out until after the international break and neither trained on Monday, nor did striker James Wilson, who picked up a knock after starting in last Wednesday's Capital One Cup game against Middlesbrough.
View a selection of photos from Monday's session at the Aon Training Complex by clicking the above pic.
The gallery images were taken by club photographers John Peters and Matt Peters.
 

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Marouane Fellaini

Van Gaal explains Fellaini options

Louis van Gaal has discussed Marouane Fellaini's versatility with the Belgian continuing to provide an option from the substitutes' bench for Manchester United.
The manager feels Fellaini can always supply a 'Plan B' alternative in attack with his aerial prowess and ability to make life difficult for defenders, but the Belgian also offers strength in midfield and that is where he is competing for a place in the starting line-up.
The 27-year-old replaced Bastian Schweinsteiger after 68 minutes of Saturday's match at Crystal Palace but was unable to replicate last season's feat when he scored the winner in the corresponding fixture. Next, Fellaini will hope to feature against CSKA Moscow in Tuesday night's Champions League match.
"He has to compete as a midfielder because he is more a midfielder than a striker," said van Gaal.
"He has to compete with players in his position and I have to compare and think how we have to play and then I decide [if he will play v CSKA]. It is always like that.
"It is not a question that he does not play well because I think he was one of my better players on Wednesday [against Middlesbrough]. It is also dependable on the game plan and how I want to put my midfield out."
Fellaini's 11 matches so far in 2015/16 comprise three starts and eight substitute appearances, and he's one of 11 players to have scored for the Reds this season - he netted against his fellow countrymen of Club Brugge, just minutes after coming on in the Champions League qualifier at Old Trafford.
"When I put him on as a striker, he is only a striker in Plan B, not Plan A," continued van Gaal. "He has played as a striker once, against Liverpool, but that was because I had a problem [with injuries] and that is why I made him the striker from the beginning. However, that is not normal."

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