Q&A: Rojo On Fitness, Christmas And 2018

Manchester United defender Marcos Rojo spoke to United Review the week before Christmas, to reflect on his return to fitness, festive food choices and his hopes for 2018...

How does it feel to be back playing after such a long injury lay-off?
I am really happy to be back playing again regularly. It was a long time out so I’m extra happy to be back. All you want to do is to be working hard to so you can be in the squad, in the team to help your team-mates to compete. It’s really tough when you are out for a long time, so it’s great to be back.

Are you improving with each game and getting closer to your level before the injury?
In terms of physical fitness I’m getting there and that’s what you aim for. When you have been out for a long time it’s difficult to be competing 100 per cent at this level because it’s such a demanding level and a demanding style of football and league, but with each game I am noticing that physically I’m getting better. And the most important thing is I am finishing games well, I am feeling good at the end of matches. The actual match fitness takes a little bit longer but again, game by game, I am improving on that level and physically things are going really well.

This is your fourth Christmas playing in English football - how tough a period is it for a player and what’s the best thing about it?
I suppose it’s a bit tough when you know you are going to be out at work when you want to be spending time with your family at home enjoying Christmas, but there is something extra special about playing matches at this time. As soon as you get on the field there is an extra buzz about the place and something extra in the atmosphere. You can tell that the fans are living the whole experience in a different way than just a middle of the season game. The atmosphere is great during the fixtures over the Christmas period and that’s what we all love.

Have you sampled Christmas dinner British style?! What would you go for in Argentina?
Yes I have tried Christmas dinner a few times here in the canteen and really enjoyed it. Our idea of a roast is slightly different in Argentina – it’s the summer this time of the year so you’re having Christmas in a summer atmosphere. We also have roast meat all year in Argentina so it’s a barbecue for Christmas and we tend to celebrate on the 24th in the evening more, that’s when we eat our main meal.

We’ve got Southampton at home and Everton away next – so not very much travelling involved. Is that a good thing?
It helps tremendously, above all for our recovery periods because travelling really tires you out, so I think the fact that we have got two at home and one pretty close by over that period means we can get some rest and hopefully go into those games feeling as fresh as possible.

How much are you looking forward to 2018 with trophies to play for with United and of course the World Cup with your country?
You are right, in the distance we have the World Cup in Russia and that is obviously very important to me as an individual trying to take part in that. But between now and then we have some massive games here with United and I think it’s really important we win our games between now and the end of the year and also that we start strongly in the new year. We want to make 2018 a successful year and hopefully we will be holding some trophies at the end of the season.

*This interview first appeared in United Review on 26 December 2017.