Morgan To Eat Football

Manchester United midfielder Morgan Schneiderlin has told MUTV that his hunger to impress this season has made him want to "eat football"!

The Frenchman was disappointed to be an unused substitute for France throughout Euro 2016, but he is now focused on earning a starting place with the Reds under new manager Jose Mourinho.

Schneiderlin made his first appearance of the new era by starting against Galatasaray in Gothenburg before coming off the bench at half-time during Wayne Rooney's testimonial with Everton at Old Trafford. The 26-year-old now hopes to feature again in Sunday's Community Shield match at Wembley Stadium.

"I’m not going to deny it was frustrating in the summer," Morgan told MUTV, referencing the European Championship in his homeland. "Even if we [France] did well in the Euros. Every player wants to play.

"I wanted to play. It was the not the case but it’s made me even hungrier and even more determined to have a good season. I want to work hard. I don’t want to go through that spell again. I want to work hard to be very good this season so, yes, now I just want to play and to enjoy it.

"Every player wants to play but with competition you improve. With quality players, you improve every time so, yes, I’m going to give my best and after, I always say, it’s the manager’s choice which is the best pair he wants to play or the best midfield three he wants to put in.

"I’m going to fight for my place every day and will see what is going to be. But, of course, I want to play. Like I said, I’m hungrier after last season, it was not the season I expected and I want to prove myself. I want to eat football!"

On his own fitness and match sharpness, Schneiderlin said: "I’m feeling good. I had a short break after the Euros. It was 15 days. I didn’t lose too much fitness, which is quite good to start the season. I didn’t play a lot in the Euros so I didn’t lose a lot of energy, even if the training was intense. I feel great, even if know I still have two days before an important game, and I will improve as the weeks go on.

"The thing you lose the most is obviously the sharpness and the feeling of the ball. I don’t think I lost too much in my endurance. What you lose more is the speed and sharpness, two to three metres on the velocity. After, it’s getting the feeling with the ball again and that touch. Everything is coming slowly to start with but, after training, we do some sessions to improve the velocity and the sharpness."

United's eyes are on the prize ahead of Sunday's Wembley showdown with Premier League champions Leicester City in the Community Shield, with Mourinho desperate to land the first silverware of his reign.

"It’s a serious trophy," Morgan said. "The manager has made us aware of the fact that he wants to win it. So we know that it is very important. We are playing the champions of England. We want to show we are there and we are ready to go in the Premier League. What better way to start than by lifting a trophy?"