Kevin Kilbane thinks Morgan Schneiderlin’s disappointing time at Old Trafford shows how important Victor Wanyama was alongside the French midfielder during his successful spell at Southampton.
Schneiderlin is about sealing a move to Everton after he was deemed surplus to requirements under new Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho this season. He only made two substitute appearances in the Premier League for United after falling behind the likes of Ander Herrera, Paul Pogba, Michael Carrick and Marouane Fellaini in the pecking order.
Schneiderlin was signed from Southampton by Louis Van Gaal for £25M in 2015 after his impressive performances alongside Wanyama in the Saints midfield.
Unfortunately, the Frenchman struggled to recreate his Southampton form at the Old Trafford club – under both Van Gaal and Mourinho. He was therefore sold to Everton on Thursday.
However, commenting on the issue, former Everton defender Kilbane claimed that Schneiderlin wasn’t the same player without Wanyama alongside the Frenchman in midfield.
“The level that he [Schneiderlin] went into, the standards that are expected, the intensity of the club, the pressure of being at the club… Whether or not he could have excelled under Louis van Gaal last season playing in that system. Nobody really excelled last year that went in there” He told Newstalk’s Off The Ball.
“I watched him play for Manchester United. He looked quite poor. He was used in a different position at Southampton. He was the player breaking everything up. He was playing alongside Victor Wanyama. It might highlight how good Wanyama is. They [wanyama and Schneiderlin] were excellent as a pairing. He didn’t look comfortable playing for Manchester United.”
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