Memphis Depay opens up on tough first season at Manchester United

Manchester United’s Memphis Depay has opened up on social media about his first year struggles in the English Premier League

Though he showed flashes of brilliance in his first year in English football, Memphis Depay’s inaugural season at Manchester United was marred with spots of poor form and prolonged stays on the substitute bench. The Dutch international finished the year with 29 league appearances and just a pair of goals.

Those totals came in much below the sky-high expectations of most United fans. He became the symbol of everything wrong with the club as their plight continued on the year.

According to Depay, through the twitter account Unscripted Sport, he is far from satisfied with how he played this past season.

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ManUtd’s Memphis reflects on his first season in England: “I have more expectations for myself”

2:43 PM - 26 May 2016

 
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“It’s not been a bad year, but it’s not been a good year,” confessed the 22-year-old winger. “You know, it’s been right there in the middle. I had more expectations of myself and so did the fans as well, and that’s normal.”

Depay continued to describe his struggles over the challenging season in what is a surprisingly candid video.

“It’s been new for me this season, to play in the Premier League, so the experience I got this year is important. Also the things that I have to do sometimes as I made a mistake or I haven’t played good for a game and you get on the bench. It’s new for me as well.

“You’re the first person who was believing in yourself, no matter what, so you have to keep your chest out and sometimes it’s really hard. But I’m still young, 22. I think that’s for everybody – never give up if you believe in something that you can achieve. I think you will make it if you put everything into it. That’s my motto – dream, believe, achieve. I don’t want to give up on anything.”

Depay’s most emotional words were reserved for describing how it felt being left on the bench by Louis van Gaal. “Last season, I was playing and scoring every game but this season it’s 50-50. I have played 50 per cent of the games in the season. I have some games on the bench for 90 minutes as well and that’s new,” said Depay. “And that’s hard and of course, it p***** you off at times but you need to keep going and keep believing in yourself because you’re the first person that was believing in yourself.”