Former Manchester United midfielder Tom Cleverley has revealed that he was ‘scarred’ by the 2013/14 campaign at the club in which he struggled for form.
The season saw the arrival of David Moyes as the club’s new boss – the first time United had made a managerial appointment since 1986, when Sir Alex Ferguson took charge.
Cleverley was one of the final players to emerge from the United academy and play a part in the first team under Ferguson.
And it was in 2012/13 that the midfielder broke into the first team on a regular basis, making 32 appearances in all competitions and scoring four goals.
He continued to play in 31 more games the next season, but his form was inconsistent the entire time. Fans criticized him for his performances, and when he was selected for the England squad in March 2014, an online campaign to have him dropped was even started.
The current Watford midfielder has since reminisced on that specific campaign in a new interview.
Cleverley on Man Utd struggles.
Speaking on an episode of the official Manchester United podcast, the 32-year-old explained: “I’m not shy to admit that the season with David Moyes scarred me a lot. I’m not saying anything bad about David Moyes – I thought he was a great football manager.
“But that season, 2013/14, mentally scarred me. I lost confidence and I think when it sort of scars you for a few years, you start to doubt yourself and things like that.
“I think on a football pitch, as I say, you need to be instinctive in everything you do. So if you’re second-thinking every decision you make, you become half the player you should be and I was doing that for a season.”
He added: “At the time I was playing poorly, and it was really the start of social media being toxic and I found it hard to deal with, to be honest.
Speaking on an episode of the official Manchester United podcast, the 32-year-old explained: “I’m not shy to admit that the season with David Moyes scarred me a lot. I’m not saying anything bad about David Moyes – I thought he was a great football manager.
“But that season, 2013/14, mentally scarred me. I lost confidence and I think when it sort of scars you for a few years, you start to doubt yourself and things like that.
“I think the manager would have taken, Sir Alex would have taken me out of the firing line, get six weeks out of the team, get your head back, get your form back, get fit, and then sort of reset.”
While at Old Trafford, he had the opportunity to play alongside some of the greatest players, including the late midfielder Paul Scholes.
“I just remember training with Scholesy and being envious of how good he was,” he remembered.
I’m up against a player who never drops or misses a ball. Yes, there are days when it makes you angry. You ask yourself, “How am I going to make this team? ”
Cleverley, who currently represents Watford in the Championship, also had time with Everton before permanently leaving United in 2015.
While at Old Trafford, he had the opportunity to play alongside some of the greatest players, including the late midfielder Paul Scholes.
“I just remember training with Scholesy and being envious of how good he was,” he remembered.
I’m up against a player who never drops or misses a ball. Yes, there are days when it makes you angry. You ask yourself, “How am I going to make this team? ”
