Herrera Counts Down To Old Trafford Bow

After experiencing life as a Red during Manchester United’s pre-season tour of America, Ander Herrera can’t wait to step out at Old Trafford for the first time in a red shirt against Valencia on Tuesday night.

The Spanish midfielder regularly featured during the tour which ended in triumph as the Reds claimed the International Champions Cup with victory over Liverpool in Miami last Monday, making it five wins from five during pre-season.

Louis van Gaal’s men are in action again on Tuesday as part of REUNITED14 which marks the first home game of the new manager’s reign and it will also be a United bow for Herrera who is counting down the hours to kick-off.

“I know it’s the Theatre of Dreams and I want to play there now, I can’t wait, ” he told MUTV in an exclusive interview to be aired in The Paddy Crerand Show on Monday night. “Things went well in America but we want to do the same in front of our supporters.

“I am really looking forward to the match. I know it’s a friendly but I really want to win it. I played against Valencia a lot during my time in Spain, they always want to keep the ball and traditionally they are an offensive team and have just won the Emirates Cup, so it will be a good challenge for us.”

Away from the action on the pitch, Herrera insists he already feels very settled at United and while he is close to fellow Spaniards Juan Mata and David De Gea, he says everyone at the club has gone out of their way to make him feel welcome.

“David and Juan have helped me a lot but I have found the whole squad very hospitable. Everyone has helped me, on and off the pitch and I am very thankful and grateful to my team-mates for that,” he added.

“We are all looking forward to Tuesday’s match and it will be [particularly] special for Juan because he was at Valencia when he first started to play in the first division in Spain. It will be a big game for him but of course he wants a United win. We all do.”