Bastian Schweinsteiger hits out at criticism of his poor Manchester United performances

Bastian Schweinsteiger claims he is playing at the same level he was in the 2014 World Cup

 

MANCHESTER UNITED midfielder Bastian Schweinsteiger has hit back at critics who claim he has struggled so far this season.

 

Schweinsteiger joined United from Bayern Munich in July and has attracted criticism from the media for his performances so far this term.

But he has issued a stinging rebuke to his critics, claiming he is playing at the same level as he was during Germany's 2014 World Cup triumph.

"Honestly, I am not impressed by the criticism that has been brought up [over] me via the media," he told German publication Welt am Sonntag.

"I am currently playing on a level that is comparable to that during the World Cup [in] 2014.

 

"'Old man's football' - that is an expression that was used back then, too. After the World Cup final those voices went silent.

"I will never be able to compete with Usain Bolt.

"But being slow or being quick on the pitch has not solely something to do with making sprints. It's also about being quick in your head. And that's something where I am fully up to it. And physically, I am not the slowest either.

"For me, it is important what I am being told face to face. Every one or two words will be made bigger than they actually are [in the media]. It was a good year for me, but not a perfect year. My performances in Manchester were really okay."