As Manchester United prepare to take on Southampton later today, Ander Herrera has revealed that he is targeting a 15-goal haul this season, having already notched two thus far.
Herrera scored a powerful penalty in the 3-1 win over Liverpool FC, having also found the net against Club Brugge in the UEFA Champions League qualification play-offs.
The Spaniard is now targeting a 15-goal haul for the season, following suggestions by Manchester United club legend Bryan Robson that the former Athletic Bilbao midfielder had the ability to get into double figures during the season.
Herrera targets 15 goals
Having already scored a quarter of the goals he did in the entire 2014-15 season in his first six games, Herrera is now hoping to score 15 goals this campaign.
He was quoted as saying by Manchester United’s official website: “Last season, I scored eight and I want to keep growing, I want to keep scoring for the team.
“When you are a midfielder and you score a good number of goals, I think it makes you even better. It’s very important for midfielders so I will try to do it.
“I have to say thank you to Bryan Robson if he thinks I can score 12 to 15 goals, it means he believes in me. I believe also in myself. I think I can achieve that number of goals but it is not so easy.
“I think I have to be close to the situations to score, that is what I have to do. If I score, it’s much better and I will be happier but the most important thing is to be ready to score; that is what the manager wants from me. We don’t want to give the whole responsibility for scoring goals to Wayne or Martial or Memphis, to the strikers. Everyone has to help.”
Herrera expecting tough Southampton game
Southampton beat United at Old Trafford last season after the Manchester side had beaten them at St Mary’s. Expecting a tough game on Sunday, Herrera said: “I remember from last season, both games against Southampton were a little bit weird, a little bit strange, because away, we didn’t deserve to win but we won. At home, we didn’t deserve to lose but we lost.
“Both games against them were very tough so we have to be ready for another one. They are confident with the ball and try to play but they have Graziano Pelle up front and can also play it long. He holds the ball up for the team so they have different options to play.
“Of course, they have the quality as they finished seventh last season and I always say we have to respect our opponents. But if we are as good as we can be, we have to beat them. If we are at a good level, we always have chances to win. We are Manchester United and we have to show it.”
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