Herrera: I don’t deserve Man United captaincy yet

Manchester United Player of the Year Ander Herrera has dismissed suggestions that he could take over the captaincy from Wayne Rooney.

Herrera would probably be the fans’ choice to take the armband but the Spaniard is humble enough to admit that he does not deserve the captaincy.

“I am very thankful when I hear that from the fans, but [as] we say in Spain, they are massive words, Herrera told ESPN.

“The captains of this club are legends. The current one is Wayne Rooney but also Michael Carrick, Ryan Giggs, Nemanja Vidic. It is a list of amazing players and legends of the club.

“I prefer to keep calm and to keep my mind calm because I feel that I still have to do more for the club. I still have to win things for the club to deserve that. So I will keep calm.

“We also have some experienced players on the team, who have been here longer, like Chris Smalling, David De Gea, also Juan [Mata] came before me. So I am thankful to the fans for thinking that about me but I don’t want to think about it yet.”

Herrera’s game has evolved under Jose Mourinho, who has moved him into a more defensive position.

“The manager had a conversation and he told me I was going to be an important player if I do what he wanted me to do. I am always open to learning. I am always open to adapting myself to a new role and a new position.

“It is not so easy to play for Manchester United, for example, as a No. 10. When you play for a big club, a No. 10 has to score 10 or 15 goals and make 10 or 15 assists, so it’s not so easy.

“So I say to myself, if I want to play every game for Manchester United, which is my dream, I have to do something else for the club and for the manager. I think we have a good understanding between the manager and myself.

“We understand football the same way and we think the same; if you give everything, you are going to give things to the team.

“I can play at No. 6, No. 8 or No. 10. I have been asked a few times about it and I always say I don’t have a preference because sometimes you perform better as a No. 6, sometimes it’s better to be No. 8 and sometimes it’s better to be No. 10.

“I just try to give solutions to the manager. He knows I can play at 6, 8 or 10. Even No. 2, that I did against Everton at home.

“And if one day he wants me to play as a keeper, I will try my best. I think that’s the right attitude and it’s the attitude every Manchester United player has to have.”