Ander Herrera was named man of the match in yet another big game, with Manchester United beating Chelsea 2-0 at Old Trafford on Sunday. This follows the awards for his performances against Liverpool, Tottenham Hotspur and Arsenal.

Our Spanish midfielder was interviewed ahead of the Chelsea game and expressed his gratitude to Jose Mourinho for giving him such an important role in our first team.

I am very thankful to him. This season has been the most regular one for me at the club and that is with Mourinho on the bench. I am very happy. He gave me, from the first day, a lot of confidence and he told me I was going to be an important player for him. I will always be thankful but football changes. We have great players and Manchester United has the capacity to sign big players, so I cannot sleep. I have to keep working, performing and giving what the manager wants me to give.

Herrera has admitted that he is happy with his performances this season but has acknowledged that he can’t yet.

I am happy with my development and I am happy with my performances, but people remember the end of the season and now we are in the crucial moment. There are still eight Premier League games and hopefully four more Europa League games. Nobody will remember this part of the season if I don’t perform well at the end. I am happy but I am not finished yet.

I like to demand a lot of myself because I feel I can give more, and more, and more to the team. I am happy and I think it is the right attitude. So far has been okay for me but I still have to show I can give more. The team will need me if I am on the pitch. I am a team player, I want to give everything for the manager and I don’t look back. I just look forward. The next month and a half is the most important time of my career. That is the way I think and that is the way I see football. Also, when everyone is telling you you’re having a great season, you’re having a very good game, you’re playing very well, I don’t think it is good for yourself so I don’t listen too much. I want to be focused on what is coming and that is very important. I want to play in the Champions League next season.