Shinji Kagawa opens up on his time at Man United under Alex Ferguson

The Japanese midfielder spent only two seasons with the Red Devils.

Kagawa joined United back in 2012 from Borussia Dortmund and played 26 games in his first season with the Red Devils.

Alex Ferguson decided to end his two-decade longer managerial career by the end of that season.

Kagawa was keen to learn from the manager but Ferguson’s departure endured a short-lived spell for Kagawa at Old Trafford.

Kagawa told De Morgen: “I had the privilege of working with Ferguson for a year which was a great honour. I wanted to work with him longer, but fate decreed otherwise. It was a very beautiful period. Ferguson really wanted me in; I’ll never forget that.

“At the time, I didn’t think about that, that I was working with such a legend. Now I realize much better who he really is. If I’m honest, my first year at Manchester United was okay. We won the title, but that was because of Robin van Persie. He scored 26 goals that season. I didn’t have as much confidence anymore as I did during my passage at Dortmund.

“The adjustment in England was not always easy; there were sometimes doubts. A new language, system, coach, environment. Ferguson left after my first year, and I really didn’t see that coming. It was Ferguson who brought me to Manchester, eh. I thought I could work with him for at least another year.”

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