Wilfried Zaha: I was not David Moyes’s cup of tea at Manchester United

Posted Thursday, July 31, 2014 by theguardian.com

Wilfried Zaha believes he was just not David Moyes’s "cup of tea", with the 21-year-old prepared to fight for a place as a striker under Louis van Gaal at Manchester United.

Manchester United's Wilfried Zaha, right, vies with Juan Jesus of Internazionale in Washington

Wilfried Zaha believes he was just not David Moyes’s "cup of tea", with the 21-year-old prepared to fight for a place as a striker under Louis van Gaal at Manchester United.

Zaha was given his first action of United’s summer tour when playing the second half of the 5-3 penalty shootout win over Internazionale on Tuesday evening at Washington’s FedEx Field, after the game ended goalless.

Moyes, who was sacked in April after 10 months in charge at Old Trafford, gave Zaha only four United appearances in his first season following a £15m move from Crystal Palace, with Moyes loaning him to Cardiff City for the second half of the campaign.

Zaha was also guilty of late timekeeping, which displeased Moyes but he is hopeful of forcing his way into Val Gaal’s plans. "To be honest, if you are not the manager’s cup of tea you can’t do anything about it," he said of Moyes. "There was nothing I could do. It was definitely not my attitude. The manager had his way of playing and maybe I just didn’t suit it. There was so much pressure on him, so I can’t really blame him. I could have got a better chance but coming to United brings a load of pressure."

However, as Van Gaal has said that Zaha can play only as striker – rather than a winger – in United’s new 3-5-2 system, he knows there will be stiff competition from Wayne Rooney, Robin van Persie and Danny Welbeck.

Zaha played as a forward for the first time against Inter. "I am used to being a winger but if a manager wants me to adapt to a new position, then I will have to – and I don’t mind. To be honest, it’s not as much running as being a winger, so I will take it," Zaha said, although he did admit to being unsure if he had the ability for the role. "I don’t know. If the manager wants me to play there it would help me to discover what I can do there. I don’t think I have ever played there before but I enjoyed it there."

Zaha did score the only two goals for Palace against Brighton and Hove Albion in the Championship play-off semi-final second leg in 2013 as a striker but downplayed his role. "Yeah, but I just kind of ended up there that night," he said.

"At United there are quality players and if you get your chance you have to take it. Any chance I get I will try to make the most of it. You get ups and downs. The season before at Palace was a great season but last season was a bad one. I start off fresh this time."

Zaha impressed against Inter with a show of pace and strength and might have won a penalty, although the referee, Edwin Jurisevic, turned down the appeal after the player went to ground. "I played all right and I’m just happy the manager is happy with my performance really," Zaha said.

After the match Van Gaal indicated how hard it will be for Zaha to compete with Rooney, Van Persie, Javier Hernández and Welbeck. "I was pleased. We have to see and wait. He has a lot of competition with the other strikers," he said.

Zaha said: "I just have to work hard and I have just done what he has asked. He said if I worked hard I would get my chance. It definitely is [a fresh start]. All I can do is work hard and see how the season goes. It’s a clean slate for me."

Van Gaal has not given any promises. "No, he’s just let me know that he believes in me," Zaha said. "I can’t tell what’s going to happen with the club but we have a great manager and I am sure he will change things here. He will tell you exactly how he wants it. He won’t beat about the bush or not tell you anything. He will just tell you and that helps you instead of isolating you or just not telling you. He will let you know exactly where you are and what you are doing wrong."

Regarding last season’s tardy timekeeping, Zaha said: "When things aren’t going well then all sorts of stories come out about you. I will get my head down and carry on playing."

Van Gaal’s record of giving young players a chance is encouraging. "I have heard that before he came, so I am buzzing to hear that he will give youngsters a chance. That’s all I really [wanted] since I came here. I just want to be a Manchester United player. Hopefully this season I will get the chance," Zaha said.

He has two England appearances and hopes to add more. "Yeah, definitely. Last season I had no chance but this season anything can happen. I just have to work hard and keep my head down. I’m looking forward to the season. I have worked on aspects of my game. One thing is just keeping it simple. Losing the ball is not going to help your team, so I am trying to change that."

"I just need to keep it simple. I have tried to overelaborate and then I lose the ball and that doesn’t help anyone."