Alexis Sanchez is currently in Stockholm with the Chile national team, preparing for an international friendly, but he can’t escape questions about his indifferent start to life at Old Trafford.
Ahead of Chile’s match against Sweden on Saturday at the Friends Arena, Sanchez was asked about his tough time at Manchester United. The forward joined the club from Arsenal in January in a swap deal that saw Henrikh Mkhitaryan move to the Emirates. Sanchez is now reportedly the highest-paid player in the Premier League, earning £350,000-a-week.
However, he has yet to do justice to his talent at Old Trafford.
"He often eats alone in the canteen" https://t.co/eJiiQ1vcAk
— FootballJOE (@FootballJOE) March 21, 2018
The Chilean has scored just one goal and has failed to make a positive impact so far. The former Barcelona star admitted what we already knew during a press conference on Wednesday – that he hasn’t played well for United so far.
Sports journalist Jonas Giaever translated Sanchez’s quotes, and they make for interesting reading.
Sanchez said he “expected more” of himself upon arriving at Old Trafford, and he has found it difficult to make the switch from Arsenal to United.
Alexis Sánchez (during Chile press conference): "Seeing as I demand a lot of my self, I expected more. Also, I doubted going away with the national team, the switch of clubs has been rough" pic.twitter.com/xm2slbfoMb
— Jonas Adnan Giæver (@CheGiaevara) March 21, 2018
He also revealed that he asked Chile’s new manager Reinaldo Rueda if he could remain in England for this international break, but decided against it as he wanted to “start things off on the right foot” with his new coach.
Chile have won the Copa America twice in the last three years but failed to qualify for the World Cup in Russia this summer.
Sánchez: "I've told the manager that I wanted permission to stay in England, but having thought about it, I thought it would be good to be here to start things off on the right foot. Having changed clubs has been tough, a lot of things have happened in my life that are difficult"
— Jonas Adnan Giæver (@CheGiaevara) March 21, 2018
Sanchez also said that he has become friendly with United teammate Zlatan Ibrahimovic, who appears to be helping him settle in at his new club.
Sánchez (on Zlatan, seeing as Chile face Sweden): "It's a pleasure being with him. I hope to play a game with him. I've trained with him for a month and a half and his quality is impressive. We talk and have coffee together every day. It's sad he doesn't play for his country now" pic.twitter.com/1xSHPwiiFO
— Jonas Adnan Giæver (@CheGiaevara) March 21, 2018
