Donny van de Beek’s comments this week should come as glorious music to the ears of all United fans as he earned his first Premier League start at the weekend with Paul Pogba having missed the last few games for the Red Devils.
Having been patiently waiting after having signed for United during the summer, he helped the Red Devils turn around a two-goal deficit at Southampton as the Dutchman played the full 90 minutes when he was given the chance with Paul Pogba having missed the last two Premier League matches for whatever reasons Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has for not involving the Frenchman in his squad.
When asked if he had been frustrated at the start to his Old Trafford career, Van de Beek simply said:
“Oh no, I just work hard every day and I know that I can give the team something extra and help a lot. I was just patient. I think they understand it already because they’re world-class players, so there’s no difference (compared to Ajax).
“I play with new team-mates and you need to understand each other. We understand each other. I can play that kind of style with them.
“Also in Ajax before, I played in a lot of different positions. I played No 8, No 10 and even No 6 so I am used to it and playing a lot of different positions.”
Evidently Van de Beek certainly appears happy to do what is best that is required for the team, which stands in stark comparison to Pogba’s attitude as reflected in his negative self-vindicating comments over recent months that pointed a finger negatively at his club and comrades, particularly on his unrequited passion and desire to play for Real Madrid, using international breaks to reiterate that desire publicly.
United paid £89m to bring Pogba back to Manchester from Juventus in 2016, though he has rarely put in performances to justify that price tag.