Facundo Pellistri did not get the game time he would have wanted at Manchester United this season, prior to his loan to La Liga outfit Granada, but the winger can still reflect on the ‘incredible’ experiences he had at the club.
Even though Pellistri’s agent previously stated that one of the stumbling blocks they faced at Old Trafford was Erik ten Hag, as per The Mirror.
That led to the Spanish media quizzing the Uruguay international about his relation with Ten Hag, but Pellistri was diplomatic with his response this week.
Pellistri spoke at a Granada press conference where reporters asked him about his situation at United, making his Champions League debut earlier this season and being on loan.
“Although I had minutes at Manchester United, it was not the amount I would like given the moment I was in,” Pellistri said, as quoted by ESPN. “I am very happy for the minutes I played there.
“The goal against Barcelona was in an incredible match, where we deserved a little more. We are eager to face what remains, and we are excited to be able to achieve the goal. If you see the table and the fixture, you can dream and there are chances of achieving it.
“My whole time I was in Manchester was incredible, the experiences I had, I shared with the best players in the world and I was able to play many important games. Today I am in a stage of looking for more minutes.
“I am very happy with the opportunity and with how things are going, and when the time comes I will put everything on the scale and see what to do.”
Pellistri can take those experiences with him for the rest of his career, though it doesn’t look like he will get the opportunities he desires at United. It remains to be seen if he will be moved on at the end of the season.
When asked about facing Bayern Munich at the Allianz Arena in September, Pellistri said: “It was a dream night, making my Champions League debut with the Bayern stadium full, playing against one of the best in the world was a unique experience.
“A player always wants to play, many times one does not put oneself into the manager’s decisions, who has to think about many more things. Many times the player does not know what the coach is thinking or why he makes the decisions he makes.
“One has to be ready and enjoy the moments one has. Against Bayern, it was a very high challenge and it was my debut at that level, wonderful.”
United failed miserably in Europe this season after crashing out of the group stages of the Champions League. To make matters worse, the Reds are currently eight points adrift of fourth place in the Premier League.
Pellistri added: “United were not winning games. When a great team enters that situation everything becomes more difficult and day-to-day life is more complicated. Now it has picked up a little and hopefully at the end of the season the goal of reaching the Champions League will be achieved.
“I feel very comfortable [at Granada], I have played three games, I was able to play all three as a starter, that confidence is what I feel every day. On the human side, I am very happy and eager to continue playing and be able to achieve the objective of saving ourselves from relegation.
“When a player goes out on loan it is to look for minutes, gain continuity and try to gain confidence.”
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