Cleverly Believes That His Future Is looking up

Tom Cleverley believes that being given the opportunity to skipper Manchester United in the pre-season friendly match against the Italian club Roma is a sign that his future at Old Trafford under the new management is not gloomy as it was under the previous management.

Cleverley did not have a memorable Premier League at all in 2013-14 as his form was off. He was not used well either. Despite being a specialist midfielder, he was asked to play at other positions making the job even more difficult for him. Towards the end of the season, he fell out of favour completely.

Because of him not playing regularly for the Red Devils in the second half of the previous season, Roy Hodgson, despite being his admirer, had to overlook him for the World Cup inBrazil.

All in all, it was a season in which all the things went in the wrong direction for the 24-year old playmaker.

Cleverley was not even certain to stay at Old Trafford this summer. Everton was interested to get him in and there were suggestions that Louis Van Gaal should let him go, but, that hasn’t happened.

Van Gaal, after taking charge, has actually shown quite a bit of faith in Cleverley playing him regularly in the pre-season games and the English midfielder has repaid too by performing well.

If the reports are to be believed, the Red Devils now might be offering Cleverley a contract extension pretty soon.

Talking to the reporters about the stick that he got from the Manchester United fans last season, Cleverley said, “Criticism, if anything, makes you stronger mentally. Every player gets criticized. You can’t keep thinking about that. You just have to move on.”

Cleverley has so far played 54 league matches for United and has scored 3 goals.