Man Utd v Everton: Di Maria loving life in the Premier League

Martyn Ziegler 06:24 05/10/2014
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  • Rough and tumble: Angel Di Maria has impressed in his four games for United.

    Angel di Maria claims he relishes the physicality of the Premier League despite his slim stature and that he has already clicked on the field with Wayne Rooney and Robin van Persie.

    United’s £59.7 million (Dh350m) record signing from Real Madrid was voted the club’s player of the month for September by fans and has been a consistent threat in attack.

    The 26-year-old Argentina wing­er admits however that United have to start achieving better results, and he has backed himself to con­tinue his good start despite the dif­ferences with the Primera Division.

    Di Maria said: “It’s a more physi­cal, aggressive style of football here; strength comes into play a lot more. Players here are a lot more power­ful and show their strength a lot more; it’s another league but it’s all about settling in as quickly as possible.

    “There have been other players of a similar build and stature to myself, slim if you like, who have come here and shown a physical resilience in the way that I hope to as well.

    “The main thing though is I am very, very happy to be here, it’s a league I have always wanted to play in and I’m overjoyed to be playing here at Manchester United now and I hope it’s going to be for a long time.”

    Di Maria said he felt privileged to be playing alongside Rooney and van Persie, but that their imme­diate understanding on the pitch needed to be converted into results.

    He added: “It’s special – when you start playing you are aware of names like Wayne Rooney and Rob­in van Persie; you have seen them playing and know what great play­ers they are. So it’s fantastic to have a chance to line up with them. I’m really pleased with how that under­standing has started off. I think it has started well and it’s now about converting that understanding into goals and points as quickly as possible.

    “I think I’ve settled in, I’ve got used to the style of play, the club in general and my team-mates.”

    Di Maria will be in the United team for today’s visit of Everton with Juan Mata set to replace Wayne Rooney as he starts his three-match ban. Teenager defend­er Paddy McNair will continue in the back four.

    Everton – who did the dou­ble over United last season – will undertake late fitness checks on defender Seamus Coleman and James McCarthy, who both missed Thursday’s Europa League match in Krasnodar. 

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