Daley Blind believes that the money that Manchester United have spent since Louis van Gaal took over as manager has turned them into a “really great team”.
The Red Devils forked out over +180 million on new players during the summer, including a British-record +75m on Angel Di Maria as well as +17.5m to bring Blind from Ajax.
Despite the huge outlay, they sit fourth in the Premier League table but the Netherlands international says that the competition for places is turning the squad into something special.
“The prices in the team are expensive and the manager has said that as well so you have to train every day, very hard, to show yourself and show that you really want to play,” he told reporters.
“We are one team, we have to do it with each other, whichever XI the coach chooses. We are supporting each other and it feels like a really great team.”
Blind has suffered an injury-hit start to life with the 20-time English champions after suffering damage to his knee ligament that ruled him out of action for two months but the midfielder is keen to put the knock behind him and build on some postivie early showings for the club.
“It was disappointing but it was an injury I couldn’t really do anything about,” he remarked. “Somebody fell on my knee. It was not a muscle injury or something that happened because of tiredness so it was really just unlucky.
“It could have been worse but I tried to feel positive and work hard every day to come back stronger. I hope to start now. Apart from this injury I’ve been really fit during my career so I hope it stays that way.
“It was bit hard getting over the injury but it’s a nice group and everybody was really helping me every day and every week. It’s just like home so I feel good being here.”
Despite his long lay-off, Blind was thrown straight back into Van Gaal’s starting XI as United suffered their first defeat in 12 matches at the hands of Southampton on Sunday. He and Di Maria were surprise inclusions, having just recovered, and some have criticsed the manager for rushing back his summer signings.
And though Blind admits that he found playing 90 minutes of Premier League football difficult after his time away, he is pleased to have got straight back into the action.
