Ander Aiming For Multiple Titles

Ander Herrera is relishing the possibility of a swift return to the UEFA Champions League for Manchester United in 2015/16 and believes the Reds’ summer recruits will help the club battle to win silverware on multiple fronts.

United’s ranks have been bolstered by the arrivals of Memphis Depay, Matteo Darmian, Bastian Schweinsteiger and Morgan Schneiderlin, ensuring Louis van Gaal’s men will be well-equipped when facing Tottenham Hotspur in a season-opening clash on Saturday 8 August.

The Reds’ fixture list could also be dealt welcome additions should progression to the Champions League group stage be achieved through a pair of qualifiers in late August. The identity of United’s opponent will be confirmed in UEFA’s draw in Nyon on 7 August.

With the potential for a build-up of games over the coming season depending on success in domestic and European competitions, Herrera feels the squad’s increased depth could prove vital.

“We want to play in the Champions League, fight for the FA Cup, the Premier League, so when you want to make a good season, it's not just with 11 players,” the midfielder explained. “There are injuries. I wish there were not, but there are. There are good and bad moments for the players, so everyone is going to be involved in what I think will be a very good season.

“We want [to win the league] but we have to fight because we cannot forget we were fourth last season.”

Competition in United’s midfield is the healthiest it has been in years after the signings of Schweinsteiger and Schneiderlin, and Herrera feels the wealth of knowledge that World Cup-winner Schweinsteiger brings is something he will hugely benefit from.

“I always want to play with the best players and Bastian is one of the best in the world,” the Spaniard enthused. “I’m sure I am going to learn a lot of things from him and we have also Michael Carrick and Wayne Rooney – players with a lot of experience who can help the young players.

“He (Schweinsteiger) is always safe with the ball, he always knows what is at his back and I have to learn that from him.”