Bastian To Mentor Memphis & Martial

Bastian Schweinsteiger knows exactly what is required to enjoy a successful career and the German is convinced team-mates Memphis Depay and Anthony Martial have what it takes, admitting the youngsters can “give a lot of power to Manchester United” in the coming years.

With eight Bundesliga titles, the Champions League and World Cup on his CV, as well as another eight major honours, Schweinsteiger is a man whose words carry great weight and the 31-year-old speaks with authority when quizzed specifically on two of Louis van Gaal’s six summer signings.

“Yes, they can achieve a lot,” Basti explains in the matchday programme for Wednesday’s tie with Wolfsburg at Old Trafford. “They are both very young but both very talented. If they make the right decisions and take the right steps in the future, then they can give a lot of power to Manchester United. For me, the most important thing is that they have a good personality and a good character, and they do! That is what’s most important, and with the quality they can achieve a lot.”

Schweinsteiger is the most experienced Champions League player at United with 130 appearances to his name, not to mention the 2013 winners’ medal he earned with former club Bayern Munich. Now, he’s planning to share his knowledge and wisdom to his more inexperienced Reds colleagues.

“I will try to guide them, of course,” the no.31 tells United Review. “I have played a lot of matches at that level and it is always a little bit different to Premier League and Bundesliga games. It is always a special night when you walk onto the field and the anthem comes on. It is a big honour to play Champions League games, so I will try to give my best and try to help my younger team-mates.”

Wednesday’s important Group B match at the Theatre of Dreams will, of course, pit Schweinsteiger against German opposition in Wolfsburg, who impressed in the Bundesliga last season but recently lost star player, Kevin De Bruyne, to Manchester City. The Wolves are also without a win in two matches after suffering a 5-1 defeat to Bayern Munich, when substitute Robert Lewandowski scored five goals in nine minutes, before drawing 1-1 with Hannover 96 at the weekend.

However, Schweinsteiger knows all about them and insists United must be ready for a difficult game. “They are really good, especially in the last three or four years when they have made big improvements,” he says. “Of course they have Volkswagen behind them, in the background, but they have a good team and a good coach. They have just lost against Bayern Munich 5-1 but, if you saw the whole game, then it could have also been a little bit different. They are really strong and I would say in Germany that they are in the top three with Bayern and Borussia Dortmund.”