Blind Praises United's Competitive Spirit

Daley Blind has praised the competitive spirit within the Manchester United squad, which the versatile Dutchman feels is key to both individual and collective improvement.

The rampant Reds have made a blistering start to the season, currently sitting joint-top of the Premier League and leading the way in Group A in the UEFA Champions League.

Blind, who has started four games so far this season at left-back, feels the success on the pitch can be put down to the players pushing each other in training. However, he insists the hard work must continue if the Reds are to maintain the impressive opening to the campaign.

“I think, if you have a big squad, the competition is high in the training sessions,” he said. “It makes you better as a player and also as a team, and it shows the strength of the competition if someone comes in and they’re ready. I think it’s very good.

“I think we’re feeling good as a team. I think we show it on the pitch, how eager we are to win, how bad we want it and how we want to work for each other. That’s the most important thing, but we still have to keep our feet on the ground.

“We have to work hard every day to get where we want. That starts in the training sessions and we have to show it on the pitch in every game.”

United made a winning return to Europe’s top competition with a convincing 3-0 victory over Swiss champions FC Basel at Old Trafford, leaving the Reds in a good position ahead of next week’s trip to the Russian capital to take on CSKA Moscow.

When asked what it’s like to be playing in the UEFA Champions League again, Blind said: “The Champions League says it all. It’s the highest competition for clubs in Europe. The best teams perform in the Champions League and that’s where we want to be.”

Blind could be involved as the Reds begin the defence of the League Cup with a third-round tie against Championship side Burton Albion at Old Trafford on Wednesday night.