Bayern Munich and Germany legend Bastian Schweinsteiger believes that Manchester United made one major mistake and it set the Premier League club back “many years.”
Bastian Schweinsteiger enjoyed an incredible playing career with Bayern Munich before he left the club in 2015 and made a surprise move to Manchester United.
The 39-year-old former midfielder arrived at Old Trafford and was reunited with former United manager Louis van Gaal, who had managed him at Bayern.
Schweinsteiger made 35 appearances for the Red Devils and scored twice and picked up two assists during his two seasons at Old Trafford.
The former Germany international, who was signed by United for a £6.5m fee, left the Red Devils in 2017 and signed for MLS outfit Chicago Fire.
Schweinsteiger, who lifted an FA Cup under Louis van Gaal, saw out the remainder of his legendary playing career at Chicago Fire before hanging up his football boots.
Schweinsteiger on Man Utd playing career
Speaking to FourFourTwo magazine, Bastian Schweinsteiger has opened up about his time at Old Trafford and both the highs and lows of his experience.
The former Manchester United and Bayern Munich midfielder felt the Red Devils had a “huge chance” to win the Premier League title before he was ruled out with injury.
Schweinsteiger admitted that he could “feel the size” of United, but he added that it could not be compared with what he saw during his time in Munich.
“Unfortunately, I got injured in a period when we were pretty much first in the league, together with Leicester,” he said.
“That was a huge chance to win the Premier League. But until January we did very well.”
Schweinsteiger on mistake Man Utd made
Schweinsteiger endured a tough second season at United after Louis van Gaal was sacked in 2016 and replaced by Jose Mourinho in the managerial dugout.
The 2014 World Cup winner was banished from the United first team under Jose Mourinho and was forced to train with the Under-23s team.
However, Mourinho later made a U-turn and Schweinsteiger returned to the United first team in training and even featured under the ‘Special One.’
Former Germany midfielder Schweinsteiger believes that United made a big mistake by not letting Van Gaal “change more at the club” during his spell in charge.
Schweinsteiger is convinced that United “lost many years” because of their decision to not put full trust in Van Gaal and allow him to implement meaningful change.
“I could feel the size of Manchester United, even if you cannot compare it with Munich,” he said.
“The medical department in Munich was fantastic: they had a doctor who was also the doctor for the national team.
“But playing at Old Trafford was amazing, as was playing with people like Wayne Rooney, Michael Carrick, Ashley Young – I liked to sit with them, they were fun to talk to.
“I think Louis van Gaal wanted to change more at the club, and with a bit more trust, he would have done that earlier.
“When you look back, I think Manchester United lost many years because of that.”