---
title: "The belitted importance of Ander Herrera"
canonical: "https://readmanutd.com/2015/03/24/the-belitted-importance-of-ander-herrera/"
type: "post"
language: "en-GB"
section: "Articles"
published: "2015-03-24T22:06:24Z"
modified: "2015-04-13T23:32:30Z"
---

# The belitted importance of Ander Herrera

A Manchester United side devoid of Herrera would be unthinkable at this stage in the season, and the 25-year-old revealed we have himself and our gaffer to owe our debts to. It doesn’t take much to envision Louis van Gaal displeased by his squad of players and in particular, only seven league starts for the midfielder during the opening stages of the season suggested Herrera was one of those on his hit-list.

A change in fortunes boils down to a change in style for the €36 million purchase. You might think initially that Spaniards’ hunger for the ball shows positive desire, however, it did not go hand-in-hand with his superiors preferences. He, on the other hand, ‘loves possession and doesn’t like to risk the ball.’ Said Herrera, whilst additionally telling of the manager’s belief that there’s a place for everything and everything in it’s place, he is convinced goals can only come of this. I suppose, why play someone who you think isn’t going to aid the finding of the back of the net. And after all, he’s the boss!

Adapting to what he believes are two very differing philosophies in Van Gaal and Marcelo Bielsa, it is admirable how Herrera has refused to accept his bench-warming, early-bath-taking fate. Perhaps he is a team player after all and not the possession-greedy individual Van Gaal thought him to be. Something must have ticked the boxes for United’s number 21 as David Moyes’ efforts to bring him to Old Trafford during his reign were unsuccessful, what exactly did our current manager say to the summer signing?

The two still keep their distance though as was also divulged. Herrera stated too; ‘he seems to be a good guy, with a character that strikes you from the first moment, but he has a good background,’ to El Pais. It’s a shame though that he couldn’t find this form earlier on in the campaign or else Champions League could be all but guaranteed, don’t you think?