RvP: 20 Moments And More

With the Barclays Premier League 2013/14 fixtures due for release on Wednesday 19 June, we’ll soon be looking ahead to the new campaign. But in the latest issue of Inside United magazine, on sale this week, Robin van Persie has one last glance back at what was an incredible debut campaign at Old Trafford.

United’s no.20, who scored 30 goals, won his first league winners’ medal and bagged the Sir Matt Busby Player of the Year award as voted for by the fans, picks out the 20 moments that made his first year in Manchester so special.

On scoring his first Reds hat-trick at Southampton in September, he says: “This was my first experience of United’s famous never-say-die attitude. It was a crazy match but we never gave up. I still think about the penalty I missed. I was so lucky to have a chance to make that mistake right by scoring another two goals.”

Of his stunning volley against Aston Villa in April, supplied by Wayne Rooney’s sumptuous pass, Robin says: “It was instinct. I looked up and thought: ‘This ball is so nice, it’s too beautiful to take a touch’.” And of United's supporters, he enthused: "The whole season the fans have been unbelievable from my very first match at Old Trafford."

But for the smooth-talking Dutchman the best experience is how all these moments came together, resulting in United’s 20th – and his first – league title. “I have to say that winning a trophy is fantastic,” he adds. “It’s great but the road to the trophy is maybe even nicer. Being together every day and working on details, getting better step-by-step, beating opponents and then at the end of all that is the result and the trophy.”

With the new season creeping ever closer, van Persie's final message whets the appetite for what promises to be an enthralling, intriguing campaign under new boss David Moyes. “It’s been an honour and I’m still thrilled about what’s happened in the last 10 months or so,” he concludes. “Hopefully we can do even better, crack on and win even more trophies.”