Kagawa: We Have Learned A Lesson

Shinji Kagawa has vowed he and Manchester United will use the disappointment of last season as a "trigger" to improve this term.

The Japan midfielder made 14 league starts in 2013/14 but was not entirely satisfied with his contribution as the Reds finished outside the European places in seventh. He believes team-work and honest endeavour is the key for both him and United to achieve success under new manager Louis van Gaal.

"When I look back, last season was tough," Kagawa told ManUtd.jp. "I will use that frustration as a trigger to express myself this season, challenging myself to do new things. I'll work hard to achieve goals and results. I'm really enjoying myself, it's my third year with United and I know my team-mates very well.

"We've learned a lesson from last season. It is important for us to stick together and work towards the same goal. We can do much better if we can bring out the best of ourselves. We want to keep succeeding in the manager's new system, and we want to win trophies. That's what the fans expect."

Van Gaal tried some of his squad members in new positions on the pre-season tour of the United States. Ashley Young was deployed as a wing-back, Wilfried Zaha played up front and Kagawa adopted a holding midfield role.

"It has been seven or eight years since I played as a defensive midfielder, but the important thing is I do my best in whatever position I am asked to play in," Kagawa said. "I have to achieve results wherever I play.

"The boss told me to be mindful about the distance between defensive midfielders and to be more conscious of the choices I make when I receive the ball – in other words, how I should help build the attack."