Can Herrera finally cement his place at United under freedom of Mourinho?

When asked to explain the difference between Jose Mourinho and Louis van Gaal, Ander Herrera was blunt in his response: “Mourinho gives you more freedom as a player; he wants the player’s instinct to come through.”

Despite being Van Gaal’s first signing as United manager in June 2014, Herrera was never fully accepted by the Dutchman. In many ways Herrera represented everything that Van Gaal’s United were not and everything United fans craved. He was busy, direct and could contribute with goals and assists from midfield. The fact he started less than half of United’s league matches (47.4%) during Van Gaal’s two years in charge only reinforces that feeling.

While it may not have been so clear at the time, Herrera’s arrival was more of a club signing rather than a player Van Gaal had identified as central to his philosophy. United had failed in their attempts to sign the former Athletic Club midfielder only 12 months before Van Gaal’s appointment, but it remains baffling as to why he would sanction a £28.5m signing he would constantly overlook in favour of the likes of Marouane Fellaini and Wayne Rooney.

There was a period, however, at the end of his first season at the club, where Herrera looked to have won Van Gaal over. The 27-year-old started in each of United’s last 14 league matches of the 2014/15 campaign - his longest run in the first-team - as Van Gaal’s side nipped in to secure Champions League football. Herrera clocked up more minutes on the pitch (1214) than any other United player during that period and only Chris Smalling (7.66) garnered a higher WhoScored rating for the club (Herrera - 7.59). Four goals in that time also represented the joint-most from a United player, further illustrating his importance.

Rather than being rewarded the following season, Herrera would only start two of United’s opening eight league matches. He was replaced in the team by Bastian Schweinsteiger, a summer signing that was a trusted confidant to Van Gaal. Herrera would still finish the 2015/16 campaign with more league appearances to his name, but his general involvement on the pitch had reduced by 17.7%. Unsurprisingly, Herrera’s WhoScored rating in the league had dropped from 7.33 to 6.77 that season.

There are always players at a club that would welcome a change of manager. For those that have been on the periphery of the first team, it’s the chance for a fresh start and that seemed the case for Herrera when Mourinho replaced Van Gaal at the end of last season. However, Herrera quickly found himself back among familiar company. A start in their first league match of the season was then followed by four successive matches on the bench, as Mourinho opted to partner Fellaini with world record signing Paul Pogba.

Herrera’s reintroduction to the team in their thumping 4-1 win over Leicester at the end of September coincided with Rooney’s omission and his performances have slightly flown under the radar as a result. The Spaniard’s ability to inject speed and purpose into United’s forward play has been noticeable, even if he has only created two chances for his teammates this season.

In the last two matches only three players have completed more interceptions in the Premier League than Herrera (11), while only two outfielders for United have played a greater proportion of their passes forward (Herrera - 33.3%). Furthermore, only Jordan Henderson (188) and Santi Cazorla (177) have completed more passes in the Premier League in that period (Herrera - 151), highlighting the importance of the Spaniard’s new deeper role in the team.

Herrera’s performances may not have been caught by all, but they were enough to culminate in proper recognition from the Spanish national team for the first time during the international break. The United midfielder was involved in Spain’s 2012 Olympic squad but he’s never really been on the cusp of the main squad since. It was a call Herrera started to think he would never receive due to his stagnation under Van Gaal, and it came as such a surprise he thought it was a joke from his United teammate David de Gea.

“It’s been difficult to get back because this is the fifth season since the Olympics,” Herrera continued in an interview with Spanish newspaper El Correo. “I’m overjoyed because I have fought hard for it. I know that in the two years under Van Gaal I was not in the United team enough to be called up.”

“Now with Mourinho I’m feeling good. He is putting faith in me and giving me that chance to play regularly in a top side. Now I have to show that I deserve to stay in the United XI and deserve to keep getting the call to join the Spain squad.” Herrera will be fully aware that two good performances against Leicester and Stoke do not guarantee you anything at United. His importance was perhaps best personified in United’s drab 1-0 win over Ukrainian side Zorya wedged in between those fixtures, in which Herrera was rested. In his absence, and with Fellaini anchoring the midfield alongside Pogba once more, United only managed two shots on target despite enjoying 71.9% possession.

The real tests are still to come for Herrera. Mourinho will know more about his partnership with Pogba when United begin their incredibly difficult run of fixtures starting away to Liverpool on Monday. That is then followed up with a tricky Europa League match against Fenerbahce and Mourinho’s return to Chelsea in the space of six days, with another encounter with Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City soon after.

United have already endured a mixed start to the season and the results they gain in that nine-day period will reveal a lot about their season to come. It could also prove a defining period for Herrera, in which those fixtures will be a true examination of his credentials as a United midfielder.

Is Herrera the right player to bring the best out of Paul Pogba? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below