Bastian Schweinsteiger has rejected the criticism from club legend Franz Beckenbauer
Former Bayern Munich midfielder Bastian Schweinsteiger has rejected the criticism from club legend Franz Beckenbauer about his move to Manchester United.
The German international recently completed a £16 million transfer to United. It comes as a surprising news for all parties involved since Schweinsteiger was expected to retire at the Allianz Arena. However, he has chosen to move to United in order to experience a new challenge. Beckenbauer has questioned the reasoning behind a move to the Premier League where Schweinsteiger is an unknown quantity despite his pedigree with Bayern Munich and the German national team.
Schweinsteiger, though, has quoted the example set by none other than Beckenbauer himself, who moved to the MLS when he was entering into his 30s. Schweinsteiger says that he is feeling at the peak of his powers and that he is confident of proving himself at United. The 30-year-old has had been plagued by numerous fitness issues in the last couple of years. Last season was one of his poorest in terms of total appearances made. It does not seem to have improved during pre-season, as manager Louis Van Gaal criticised him of mediocre performances in the recent friendly games.
“I don’t know when Beckenbauer moved to America to New York Comsos at 32. I am 30. It is a challenge for me. I feel very good. I had last year the thing with my knee after the World Cup which was very intensive for me and I had a break at October.But from that time on I had no injury, I was fit and felt fit at the end. Of course sometimes when you are getting older you need a little more time for recovery, maybe half a day more than 20-year-old players so that’s normal,” said Schweinsteiger. The German is expected to take part in the opening match against Tottenham.