Topics: Manchester United, Football, Premier League
Former Manchester United midfielder Morgan Schneiderlin admits he is angry with himself for failing to make the most of his opportunity at Old Trafford.
Schneiderlin, 33, joined United in a £25m move from Southampton in 2015, signing on the same day Bastian Schweinsteiger arrived from Bayern Munich.
The French midfielder secured his dream move after an impressive seven-year spell with the Saints, in which he made 261 appearances for the club – scoring 15 times.
Schneiderlin struggled to replicate that form at Old Trafford and was sold to Everton just 18 months later, having made only 47 appearances for the Red Devils.
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The former France international would spend three-and-a-half seasons with the Toffees before returning to his home country with Nice in 2020.
Schneiderlin is currently on loan at Australian club Western Sydney Wanderers and the defensive midfielder admits he is unhappy with how his career has turned out - believing he could still be United player today, had he done things differently while at the club.
"I know if I played to my full potential, with freedom, I would not be in Australia right now," Schneiderlin told the Daily Mail, comments which may ruffle a few feathers at Western Sydney.
"Maybe I would still be at Manchester United. When I signed, I wanted to be a legend there. That is why I am mad with myself and it will be hard until the end of my life
"My friends ask, 'Why are you saying this?' But I know myself and what I can bring.
"I know this time at Manchester United affected me for the longest period in my career. I was so frustrated I couldn't give what I wanted."
Schneiderlin believes his failure to make the grade at Old Trafford was partly down to former United boss Louis van Gaal.
"I was too affected by what [manager] Louis van Gaal was asking from me. I lost me as a player," he added.
"It was not me on the field. It was not just the manager's fault, it was my fault, too. My role was not the one I had at Southampton. I felt restricted in my game. I felt they wanted to change things in me.
"I was not thinking as me, I was thinking about what pleased the coach. When you reach that point, every pass you make, everything you do, you don't play free.
"Something stopped me from being who I was. I wanted so much to do well and it is one of the most frustrating things ever."
