Henrikh Mkhitaryan’s difficult start at Manchester United seems like a long time ago.
The Armenian winger found himself out of the team for the early months of the season, after being taken-off at half-time of United’s 2-1 loss to Manchester City at Old Trafford at the beginning of September.
However, he’s now a key player for Jose Mourinho’s side and showed his talents once again with an excellent performance in the 2-0 over Watford on Saturday.
The 28-year-old convinced his manager that he was up the physical requirements of the Premier League, after Mourinho appeared to initially doubt his suitability for the English top flight following his move from Borussia Dortmund.
Mkhitaryan has been reflecting on his experience at United so far, and the main difference between playing in England and Germany. The forward says the players are a lot more athletic in the Premier League.
“When I watched the Premier League on TV, I would not have expected it to be so hard,” Mkhitaryan told German media outlet Bild.
“The opponents are all physically strong, they are real athletes. That was not the case in Germany. You have to be prepared for this. But I have prepared myself.
“I have also informed myself about the history of England and Manchester. I wanted to know how people live here, what drives them. To this I naturally analysed English football. It was important to be mentally ready.”
Mkhitaryan also spoke about the difference between his current club and Dortmund, where he spent three seasons.
“Manchester United has always been one of the best clubs in the world,” the Armenian said.
“And Manchester United is now a bigger club than Borussia Dortmund. Everyone knows that, and you have to accept that. When the request came, I knew that it would be a new challenge for me. With a new team, in a new country. “
“Manchester United is not just any club. Being a part of this club also means being part of a great story. If you play well, you always get your chance. If you do not, you are out the side very quickly. That’s why you have to be ready to get the best out of yourself.”
