Jose Mourinho, the new manager at Manchester United has already go himself into a controversy at the new club as he was criticised for banishing German midfielder Schweinsteiger to train with the junior squad and putting him up for sale this summer. However, the manager was not able to offload the 31-year old and reports have revealed that the Portuguese manager has included the World Cup winner in his 25-man squad for the new Premier League season. Schweinsteiger made a move to Old Trafford from Bayern Munich last summer but the lack of experience and a number of injuries saw him have no impact on the side whatsoever.
Louis van Gaal, the former United manager gave him enough chances to prove himself but having lost his form, Schweinsteiger also lost his place in the starting XI. He was not even given a chance by the new manager at the club, at least till now, and it looked like his European career was all but over. But with Mourinho now adding him to the squad, it looks like he may actually have a way back into the squad this season. Mourinho has the likes of Paul Pogba, Marouane Fellaini, Morgan Schneiderlin, Ander Herrera and Michael Carrick for two places in the squad. The world record signing will not be dropped while Mourinho has favoured the physical approach of Fellaini in the first few games of the seasons. Schneiderlin and Herrera will provide cover for the duo while Carrick will add experience to the squad when required.
This has seen Schweinsteiger fall to 6th in the pecking order and though his name has been included in the squad, it looks highly unlikely that he will get regular game time at the club. Manchester United are active in the Europa League this season and will need all the depth they can get and to have a player like Schweinsteiger on the sidelines only shows how strong the Manchester United squad is. But having the German has its own advantages. Schweinsteiger, though not the fittest anymore, is still one of the best technicians in the game. His range of passing and vision are exemplary and though he may not be able provide the energy that made him a successful winger and an even better midfielder anymore, he will be more than useful in a game where United need to break defences up.
We have time and again seen teams that have decided to sit back and defend for long periods of time in the games against top sides in the Premier League and the German can be an impact player in such games. He can unlock defenses up with his skill and technique while his experience will also help the whole side keep their concentration throughout the game.
Schweinsteiger will find it hard to get into the team for big matches but having him in the squad is an advantage at least for his expertise in the dressing room. He has won almost everything in the world of football and is an asset for any squad and Mourinho will know better to use him to improve his squad till he is still a member of the Old Trafford family. Do you think Schweinsteiger has a future at United?
