Schneiderlin: Man United manager turned me into a robot
Morgan Schneiderlin has hit out at his treatment by Louis van Gaal, who he says ruined his Manchester United career.
Schneiderlin was signed in the summer 2015 by Van Gaal, intended as the long-term replacement for Michael Carrick.
However, he was left out of the team for crucial matches and then frozen out completely by Jose Mourinho.
Schneiderlin was sold to Everton in January, where he has impressed.
“This first year with Louis Van Gaal sticks in the throat,” Schneiderlin told L’Equipe.
“I didn’t take any pleasure on the pitch. He left me little freedom in my game, even though I have quite a lot of experience in the Premier League.
“With him, I felt like playing a robot. They said to me, ‘You must never go and get the ball in this part of the pitch, you must not do this, that’. These instructions may have disturbed me a little.
“When a player wonders during a game – ‘But what does the coach want me to do in this situation?’ – he begins to be less efficient.
“Especially at Manchester United, in a context where all matches are scrutinised by the media and where one can quickly be criticised from everywhere.”