Play With Head And Heart

Manchester United midfielder Ander Herrera on why matches are won and lost in the mind.

When you watch a Premier League game the action seems to happen incredibly quickly. Does it feel that way when you’re playing?

No, to be honest. You get used to the rhythm of the game because you train in that way every day. It’s true that football has become faster because the players are more athletic than they used to be 20 or 40 years ago. When I watch a game from ten years ago I realise that the pace of the game has increased. But when I train or when I play I don’t feel it because I’m ready for that.

Do you have less time on the ball than you used to?

I think that’s true. In my position, midfielders used to have more time on the ball. But now we are under pressure almost every time we have the ball.

How does that affect the way you play?