Exclusive Q And A: Vermijl

Marnick Vermijl gives a first major interview to Inside United ...

Tell us about your senior debut against Newcastle United…
I was a bit nervous before the game, but I think that’s normal if you’re going to play in such a big stadium for such a big team. I really enjoyed it – with all the young lads playing, and to get the win and go through, made it even better. Old Trafford’s a big pitch, so it didn’t make it any easier that I’d been injured beforehand. I think that’s why I started feeling my hamstring, because I’d only had three days’ worth of training beforehand.

You were particularly impressive in the Manchester Senior Cup win over Bury. The manager takes notice of these games - do you think that helped earn your Capital One Cup call-up?
It was only a few days before the Newcastle game so that was a major boost for me as well to score.

Breaking into the first team must make all the hard work worthwhile…
It’s why you’re doing it. Everyone at the club is trying to achieve the aim of playing in the first team.

Have you always been a right-back?
When I was young, I started out as a striker. But down the years I went a position back and then a position back. I was actually a central defender until I was 16 or 17 and then started to play right-back, even though I’d never played there before. I came into the national youth team and they played me right-back too. I think in football at the moment, you need to get forward from the right-back position. It’s the modern game and I think it’s the most enjoyable part of football as well. Is that part of a tactical switch with the midfields becoming tighter and the full-backs being asked to provide more width? Yes, you have more space out there if you play that way.

Do you look up to anyone in the role?
Down the years, it was Gary Neville.

Would you agree that one of your strengths, like Gary, is your consistency?
Definitely. It’s an important part of the game to be consistent as well as everything else. It’s about working hard every day in training to make sure you have enough in your tank to get those games under your belt.

Do you think United do have the best second-string team in the country?
I think we only lost two or three games all last season. I’d say we are one of the best teams – when you think that we won everything last year, you can’t really look beyond us.

It’s a different format this year. Are you finding the Under-21 league any different to the Reserves as it was last season?
It’s more or less the same. You can have three over-aged players and a keeper and, last year, mostly three players or so played from the first team, so I don’t think it’s that much different. We have a young team this year as well as the older ones from last season.

What are the behind-closed-doors games like – are they competitive?
Definitely. It’s good to get a run-out in the team for everyone if they need a match and, for the younger ones who play in those fixtures, it’s a way to show the manager that you want to get into the team.

Do you like having senior players stepping down to play with you at that level?
Definitely. Someone like Darren Fletcher is great as he runs around and coaches. To have someone like him in the team is a big step for us.

As a group, you’re all pushing hard to compete for places aren’t you?
We’ve got a lot of good, young players. There’s not much difference between us so I believe the manager can trust a lot of these youngsters. You need to get your chance and then you need to perform.

Do you feel settled as you’ve been here since 2010?
This is my third year now at United. My first year was more about adapting to the English game. Last year, I played in almost all the games and this year I’ve got to ultimately try to make the step up to the first team. You’re always looking to make that step up the ladder.

How did it feel when you heard United wanted to sign you?
Like a dream. From when I was young, I always supported Manchester United.

And we have a bunch of Belgians here now – Pereira, Ekangamene, Januzaj…
Yes, and there are Belgian players coming through in all the places in England, not just here. Chelsea signed the Musonda brothers, all three of them. The younger one, Charly, is supposed to be really good. Andreas plays in the same Belgium age group as him and those two are ones they really rate.

Belgium are a rising force. Having represented your country at various youth levels, is one of your goals to make the full national side?
I feel I’m making progress with the national team. We have a lot of good players – and young players. The aim is to get in the team for Belgium as well as United. I will need to get my chance, but my first aim is to get as many games as I can in the first team here at United.

How have the national team managed to do so well. Is it down to the coaching?
There has always been a lot of talent plus we play good football but the results never came. The only thing that has changed is we're getting the results with good football. As the players have got older, they've become more experienced. I think we had eight players who play in the [Barclays] Premier League who were in the side against Scotland.