Former Bayern Munich and Manchester United midfielder Bastian Schweinsteiger was the latest guest on The Overlap podcast with Gary Neville.
Neville was stunned after the World Cup winner revealed a story about how he was forced to stay away from first-team duties on his return for pre-season training.
Speaking on The Overlap, Schweinsteiger claimed he was banished from first-team training without warning.
Neville was appalled by how the former Germany international had been treated.
“When I came first day [of pre-season] I actually trained with Zlatan and he was there and I was like ‘oh great, he will be amazing to play,’” Schweinsteiger said.
“Then the next day on my birthday when I came to Carrington, John Murtough was there and he said you’re not allowed to walk into the dressing room. I said why, he said the coach said no. No warning or anything.”
Neville responded: “You’re not allowed to walk into the dressing room? What? Why would he tell you? Jose didn’t want you in the dressing room?”
Schweinsteiger added: “Someone could have told me there, no problem. Or explained it to me in the usual way. So I went to the youth dressing room.”
Neville: “Sorry, they kicked you out of the first team dressing room completely?”
Schweinsteiger: “Yeah. I had to ask where I’m training with the under 16s.”
Neville: “Was this made public at the time? Did Jose speak to you, he must have spoken to you?”
Schweinsteiger: “No. I said to him, can I talk to the manager in the afternoon and when I can back from the under-16s training, I trained so badly and was thinking what is going on.
“But I had a meeting in the afternoon. He just explained that he didn’t see me happy here at United because when I had my injury I did my rehab with the German doctors and spent time in Germany.”
Neville: “I’m stunned at what I’m hearing. I’m embarrassed actually. I always think players leave clubs, players left the club when I was at Man United, but there is a way to do things, there is a way to behave and act.”
It won’t come as a surprise to everyone because there has been plenty of issues behind the scenes at United down the years, especially since Sir Alex Ferguson’s retirement in 2013.
We must remember that Schweinsteiger was past his best by the time Louis van Gaal brought him to Old Trafford, but it was a harsh way for Mourinho to push him out of the club.
Schweinsteiger wasn’t part of Mourinho’s plans but the Portuguese coach could have dealt with the German’s phasing out period a lot better. The midfielder made 35 appearances for the Reds in all competitions before his departure in 2017.
Ultimately, there has been a significant drop in standards and many of the episodes we’ve encountered in recent years have shown the club in an amateurish light. From the roof leaking at Old Trafford to player spats, poor recruitment and lots of mediocrity on the pitch.
The club from top to bottom needs change, which is why many fans are hopeful of a better future under Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s guidance. Time will tell if his Ineos team can restore United to previous heights.
More must-reads: