Schweinsteiger: I’m getting better

Manager Louis Van Gaal has signed five new players during the summer, including Germany captain Bastian Schweinsteiger from Bayern Munich, Morgan Schneiderlin from Southampton and Memphis Depay from Dutch side PSV Eindhoven.

Bastian Schweinsteiger hopes to be fully fit in time for Manchester United’s return to the UEFA Champions League after shrugging off a calf injury.

“I played once in a qualification for Munich, so this is a little bit different to normal group games, but our goal is first to have a good result in the first leg”.

The Bayern Munich legend received a standing ovation from the Old Trafford crowd when he replaced Michael Carrick against Spurs and Schweinsteiger admits that he was taken aback by the reception.

I was surprised and I have to say “thank you” to all the supporters.

Yet, if you imagine that makes facing Belgium outfit FC Brugge – simply for the right to compete in the 2015-16 Champions League – something of an unwanted inconvenience, forget it.

“Schweinsteiger is such a crucial player, as can be seen from the World Cup final against Argentina last year”, said Matthaus, who was the inaugural FIFA World Footballer of the Year in 1991 and the only German to have got the recognition to date.

United midfielder Schweinsteiger had entered the building with pal Owen Hargreaves – a former United and City player – when his Range Rover was slapped with a fine.

“But if everyone works hard together, and believes in each other, I think there is a chance to win the title”.

“I am looking forward to this challenge in my life”.

“We have brought in some really good players this summer”.

Schweinsteiger, a fluent English speaker, also revealed how his new teammates have aided the settling-in process.

United’s 1-0 win over Tottenham on Saturday was seen as a reasonable result, but Carrick feels there is much room for improvement over the rest of the season.