Bastian Schweinsteiger explains how he 'lost his love' for Man United

The Bayern Munich legend has opened up on his difficult Manchester United spell under Jose Mourinho.

Having won a historic treble in 2013, Bayern Munich appointed Pep Guardiola as Jupp Heynckes’ successor a year later. The Spaniard’s arrival at the club was the start of Bastian Schweinsteiger’s problems in Munich, which ultimately led to his departure in 2015.

The World Cup winner moved to Manchester United, but his situation only worsened under Jose Mourinho. The Portuguese manager exiled Schweinsteiger from the squad a few weeks after his appointment. The German midfielder was not even able to use the team’s dressing room, a situation which convinced him to leave Old Trafford early.

“It was very strange,” the 37-year-old told United’s official podcast.

“On my birthday I came to the dressing room wanted to change. But then someone told me I’m not allowed to go in.

“I had to change in the dressing room and had to play with the second team.”

Bastian Schweinsteiger on Ralf Rangnick: “He really can help Man United with creating a new era, with not only the game on the field but also for the whole club. That’s what is needed at the moment and that’s why I think he is the right person.” #MUFC pic.twitter.com/Ldxq0Ii00n
— MUFC Scoop (@MUFCScoop) January 28, 2022

Mourinho’s explanation

He added: “I was very hurt because no one was talking to me. Then I was speaking to Mourinho about it and he explained something to me something which I really did not understand. It had to do with the second injury that I got.

“My first injury I got the season before I got treated by the medical department of United. Then in an easy training session I got the same injury so I asked Louis van Gaal if I could get treated in Germany. Because we had the Euros in 2016 coming up and it was always agreed to that.

“So I did that, I was fit, I played the Euros, I was looking forward to coming to United to play with Mourinho who twice actually wanted to buy me with Inter Milan in 2010 and then later on at [Real] Madrid.”

Schweinsteiger missed 24 games due to injury in his first season at Old Trafford under Louis van Gaal. In the next season, he played only four games, all in cup competitions. The midfielder eventually left the Red Devils to join MLS side Chicago Fire in 2017.