With the Charity Shield only days away, Portuguese winger Nani shared his optimism that he can carry on into this season the way he ended the last.
"I feel more confident in this club," he said.
"I realise where I am and I know I am doing well.
"I am helping my team win games and important points and now I know I am very important for my team.
"Everyone is excited with me because they didn't know if I could be the player everyone expected. Now everyone starts to believe I can be a very good player."
With plenty of comparisons made to a certain Cristiano Ronaldo, it's hoped that Nani can follow the former number 7's development from a youth with equal parts brilliance and ineffectiveness, to one of the premier players on the world stage. Whilst Nani doesn't need to become a World Player of the Year finalist to be a success, he most certainly needs to build on the previous season, and that, it seems, is what he's targeting.
"Hopefully I can do much better than last season. I am working very hard on that and I am confident.
"People saw a different player last season because I worked hard every day.
"I improved a lot but there is a lot to learn yet and I hope to start this season better than the last."
After an indifferent at best start to the previous season, a better beginning is certainly required if Nani wishes to keep him place in the side. He's come a long way, but the journey isn't over yet. He has the potential to establish himself as a first choice player for United, so let's hope that it isn't unfulfilled. He's lived in the shadow of Ronaldo for too long, so it's time to step out and make his own mark. This could well be Nani's year.
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