"It was something I wasn't used to at all. I'd always been comfortable at home in London, surrounded by familiar people and places, so for everything to change overnight was difficult to adapt to. Most days I'd just be at home alone, playing PlayStation until it was time to sleep. I struggled. It was probably the lowest I'd felt."
"It was difficult when Erik ten Hag arrived - as soon as he did, he told me I wasn't in his plans. But when I tried to leave, he said he didn't want me to go. I couldn't understand it. That was tough mentally, because it left me wondering what I was supposed to do next."
"Staying motivated was hard though, especially when you're training without the clear goal of playing. But the people around me guided me in the right way and encouraged me to keep going. Eventually things turned around and started to improve. You could say I changed or developed tactically under him, because that was something he wanted."
A defender experienced significant difficulties during his early months at Manchester United, finding the transition from London isolating and psychologically challenging. He spent most days alone playing video games, describing it as the lowest point in his career. When Erik ten Hag arrived as manager in 2022, the situation became more complicated—ten Hag initially told him he wasn't in his plans, but then prevented him from leaving, creating mental confusion about his future. Despite these obstacles, the player maintained focus on training and self-improvement. With support from people around him, his situation gradually improved, and he developed tactically under ten Hag's guidance before eventually returning to London by joining West Ham in 2024.
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