Nani Looks To The Future

Nani sat down with ManUtd.com following the international break to discuss his return to fitness and new contract at Old Trafford..

How are you feeling now you’re back from injury and you’ve had the games for United and Portugal?
I feel very good. I think, at the moment, there are no problems with my condition, with my fitness and with my body. It’s all good now so I’m able to focus on my job and work hard to be at my best. I’ve signed the new contract so that’s fantastic. I’m ready to work hard and help the team.

How frustrating was the timing of the injury given you were looking very sharp in pre-season and during the game in Sweden when it happened?
Yes, that was because I was working very hard in that game. I tried to work very hard to give my all, 100 per cent, and use my experience, skills and everything. That’s why I pulled up during a run. Now I’ve been working carefully so it’s all progressive. I feel very good. I’ve played a couple of games and I think I’m ready to play more games.

You mentioned you’re excited to sign the contract. It means you’ll have your peak years here now..
I’m more relaxed as now I can focus just on the games and what I am going to do on the pitch. That is very important for a player to have all the things outside of the pitch sorted out. Now I have a new contract with Manchester United and I’m so happy. I hope to give back on the pitch to try and win more trophies with the club.

Do you consider Manchester to be your home now?
I felt home a long time ago. I think I’m part of this club as I’ve been here for a lot of successful seasons. Virtually all of my career, I’ve been here – I just had two years at Sporting Lisbon and all the rest was here. All my successful times have been at this club so that’s why I am so happy. I feel at home.

We’ve had the international break and you came up against Jonny Evans. As he played full-back, were you in direct competition with him?
Yes, I spoke with him when I came on as a substitute in the game. We were losing so I said: ‘Come on Jonny, relax’. I was joking and, after two minutes, we changed the result so I started laughing but it was a good game. It was hard but a great experience for us.

Then it was off to the United States, when you started against Brazil..
It was another great game. It is always spectacular to play against a big team like Brazil. It’s always nice and everyone wants to play them. We lost but I think we did a lot of good things in the game.

After this international break, we’ve got a rush of United matches until the final World Cup qualifying fixtures..
That’s what I’m looking forward to – playing in all these games and doing my best. I think I need to start playing and get to 100 per cent fitness as quickly as possible because that’s very important for me.

Obviously, you’re suspended for the tie with Bayer Leverkusen but is there extra motivation in the Champions League after last season?
Of course. Always – every season – there is good motivation so, this year, I want to concentrate and do well because last year was unlucky. We should have gone far and should have got into the quarter-finals but the referee made the decision to send me off. We need to forget that now and think about the present and the future to work hard and do better.