Bastian Schweinsteiger commented on his departure from Manchester United and described in the English record champions’ podcast how the bad relationship with the then coach Jose Mourinho led to his departure. Among other things, the midfield star revealed that on his 32nd birthday he learned that he was only allowed to train with the second team.
This happened on August 1, 2016, according to Schweinsteiger. He said: “It was weird. I came into the locker room on my birthday and wanted to change. But there was someone who wouldn’t let me in and told me I had to change and play with the second team.” That “hurt him a lot”, according to today’s TV expert. He then tried to talk to Mourinho, “but I didn’t really understand what he then explained to me. It probably had something to do with my second injury.”
That injury, an inner ligament injury, had Schweinsteiger treated in consultation with Mourinho’s predecessor Louis van Gaal before the 2016 European Championship finals in Germany. On Mourinho, however, this did not seem “professional”.
“I did what was agreed, I was fit, played the European Championship and was happy to return to United,” said Schweinsteiger. “Mourinho was there now. A coach who actually wanted to sign me twice: in 2010 for Inter Milan and then again later for Madrid.”
Schweinsteiger’s anticipation was clouded by said incident and the relationship with Mourinho didn’t really improve anymore. The Portuguese later apologized: “It was nice that he admitted his mistake. But I lost some heart and love for the club because of it. Not for the fans or the players or the people who live in Manchester.”
Schweinsteiger switched from Bayern to United in 2015
It wasn’t an easy time. When I do something, I have to put all my heart and energy into it. It was painful and I also lost confidence,” he explained.
Schweinsteiger switched from FCB to the Red Devils in 2015 for a fee of nine million euros, but did not meet the high expectations there – also due to injury – in the first season. After barely getting a chance under Mourinho, the 37-year-old moved to the Chicago Fire in MLS on a free transfer in March 2017. He ended his career there in early 2020.
