Vidic: I thought I would flop

2007-05-18 12:57

Manchester - Nemanja Vidic admits he feared for his Manchester United future after making a disastrous start to his career at Old Trafford.

The Serbia international, who has won plaudits this season by forming a formidable defensive partnership with England star Rio Ferdinand, is set to face Chelsea in Saturday's FA Cup final at Wembley after helping United seal the Premiership title.

Vidic struggled to adapt to life in England following his seven million pound switch from Spartak Moscow in January 2006, however, and the former Red Star Belgrade centre-half claims he feared the worst in his early months at United.

He said: "My first couple of months in England were very difficult and, to be honest, I didn't think I had a future in England.

"I managed to play a few games and I am glad for that, but I know how I felt when I came and it was very different to how I feel now. I did worry that I wasn't going to make it at Manchester United. The football is different in England.

"It wasn't that I was scared, but I had lost my confidence because of what happened in those first couple of months and I missed passes I had never missed before. It was like I had forgotten how to play.

"But players need to be strong in the head to play at a big club here and I gradually I started to feel more confident. I had the support of my coaches and that meant a lot. If the coaches had not supported me it would have been hard to play.

"There are always English Premiership games on television in Serbia, but we have not had many players who have been here in the past. Everybody thinks England is not a great place for Serbians to play, but I am glad I am one of the few Serbian players who have played in England and I am playing for the biggest team."

Vidic had been expected to miss the rest of the campaign due to a collarbone injury suffered against Blackburn in March and he admits he has been surprised by his rapid return to action.

He said: "After I broke my collarbone I was scared that I was going to miss the most important games of the season.

"I pushed myself to get back as quickly as I could and I got back in the team over the past couple of weeks. I am proud of that.

"We won the championship and on Saturday we play in the FA Cup final. Maybe this season I had two bad injuries, but it is not too bad for me considering what I have won and what I could win in the cup final."

- AFP