Herrera: Mourinho found cure for my Spain pain
ANDER HERRERA says he has Jose Mourinho to thank for the fact that he has finally been recognised by his country.
The Manchester United midfielder could make his long awaited Spain debut tonight against Albania, having been called up to the senior team for the first time since the London Olympics.
He told Spanish paper El Correo: ‘It’s been difficult to get back because this is the fifth season since the Olympics. I’m overjoyed because I have fought hard. I know in the two years under [Louis] van Gaal I was not in the United team enough to be called up. Now with Mourinho I’m feeling good. He is putting faith in me and giving me that chance to play regularly in a top side. Now I have to show that I deserve to stay in the United XI and deserve to keep getting the call to join Spain.’
Hererra suffered more than most in two miserable seasons under Van Gaal but he says Mourinho has taken the shackles off the team’s attacking players. Asked about the hopes in the Spain camp that he can help improve their scoring from distance (something that has been lacking since the departure of Xavi and Xabi Alonso) Herrera said: ‘Mourinho encourages me to do it. I scored recently in the cup and I have hit the post from long-range too. Mourinho gives you more freedom as a player; he wants the player’s instinct to come through. It’s true that you then have to have that defensive order but he tells us to let that if that instinct guides us on the pitch then we should try things.’
Those orders contrast with the Van Gaal era when there were tales from Carrington that Angel di Maria was told not to dribble and others had to put pre-rehearsed team strategies ahead of situations that occurred during games.
Herrera has been called up by Spain for his attacking qualities, but is settling into Mourinho’s plans in a more defensive role.
‘It’s true that I’m playing just in front of the defence and in a slightly more defensive role than my partner, be it Paul [Pogba] or Marouane Fellaini,’ he said. ‘But I have also been the more attacking of the two if I’m paired with Michael Carrick. It’s important for me to be able to offer various solutions to the manager.’