Ander Herrera says a frank discussion with Jose Mourinho held the key to his superb form this season and reaffirmed his commitment to Manchester United amid interest from Barcelona.
The Spanish playmaker has enjoyed a stellar campaign for the Red Devils this season, bossing the midfield as United won both the League Cup and the Europa League.
Herrera’s form has seen him linked with a reunion with Ernesto Valverde, who he worked with at former team Athletic Bilbao, at the manager’s new club Barcelona.
But the 27-year-old insists his strong form in 2016/17 is all thanks to Mourinho, and intends to repay his faith by remaining at Old Trafford and improving even further next season.
‘This is the best season so far,’ Herrera told Sky Sports. ‘But hopefully I can have better seasons because I don’t want to stop.
‘I’m going to keep playing and keep improving and keep making our fans proud. I want to continue adding things to my game, to my
style. And I will do it.’
Speaking on Mourinho’s influence, he continued: ‘I had a meeting with him and he told me I was going to be important to him if I got some points and I did it.
‘I know it is difficult to play in a big club like Manchester United as a No.10 because you know how many goals you have to score to play there. So I thought I had to add something to my game. I had to give more options to the manager. We both agreed.
‘He told me that I was going to play sometimes a different role in the team. He told me sometimes I was going to play more defensive and in other games he was going to need me more forward.
‘I told him I’d play wherever he wanted me to play and I would give my best. We feel the football in the same way.’
Herrera’s clear bond with both his manager and United’s fans suggests he has little intention of joining Barcelona despite Valverde’s overtures this summer.
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