Zaha Talks about Ferguson, Moyes, Pardew and Why He is Happy

Wilfried Zaha has opened his heart about his lonely struggle at Manchester United.

Zaha has a smile back on his face after rejoining Crystal Palace on loan and is starting to enjoy his football again under new boss Alan Pardew.

But he revealed how hard he found it to adapt to life at Old Trafford after his £15million move in 2013 because:

He never worked with Alex Ferguson, the man who actually signed him.

He was all alone in Manchester and had no one to look after him as David Moyes’ new regime took shape.

Moyes played him out of position then quickly shipped him out to Cardiff on loan.

Zaha, 22, was one of English football’s hottest properties when Fergie snapped him up in January 2013.

But the England winger turned out to be the Scot’s last signing as United boss before his retirement. And that was where the problems began.

Zaha said: “Sir Alex obviously saw something in me and that’s why he brought me to United.

“But I never got to be coached by him. I signed and by the time I came back he had left. That was weird.

“When I saw the news he was retiring, I was thinking ‘What’s going on? Why would he sign me if he knew he was going?’

“But I heard he had his own stuff to do so I can’t really hold that against him.”

Zaha returned on loan to Palace for the rest of the 2012-13 season, helping them back into the Premier League via the play-offs.

And when he finally joined up with new United team-mates, it was under Moyes — the first new boss at Old Trafford for 27 years.

As one of nine children, Zaha was used to a house full of noise and company. In his Manchester apartment in the summer of 2013, he was on his own for the first time.

Zaha added: “I had a lot to deal with living on my own in Manchester. It was lonely, it wasn’t the best.

“There were other players I used to speak to but everyone does their own thing.

“I don’t think anyone really has time to stop and put an arm around you. You just have to get on with it. That’s what I realised.

“It was a bit different for me. At big clubs you just have to get on with it because there’s no one to tell you much. I don’t think I was ready for it.”

Moyes’ baptism of fire as United manager made life harder for Zaha.

Although Adnan Januzaj was given a chance to shine, it was suggested the former Everton boss was reluctant to put another young player into a team which was struggling to live up to the standards demanded.

Zaha, who made just four competitive appearances for United before being loaned to Cardiff, added: “It was new to everyone at United. I played a bit but I never played in my position, so obviously I wasn’t doing as well as I could do.

“If you’re not playing, you’re not happy. Sitting at home and watching the team play constantly, you feel like you could do something to help. I understood that United weren’t doing well and you’re not going to chuck in a young player at the same time.

“It was probably either Adnan or me at the time. I think I could have done it. But it was the manager’s choice.”

Life off the pitch improved in Cardiff as Zaha had one of his brothers living with him — but the season ended in relegation.

Only now, sharing a home with sibling Kel, back in the south east and playing regularly under Pardew, is he truly happy again.

Zaha added: “The new manager has brought a bit of hope and new ideas to the team. Because everyone was thinking, ‘Palace are definitely going down’.

“He wanted to sign me before when at Newcastle. He’s just said, ‘Do what you do. When you go on the pitch, take on players.’ I know if I take someone on and lose the ball, I’m not going to feel nervous about being taken off.

“He has a belief in me. So I can go out and try those things.”

They worked a treat against high-flying Southampton last week when Zaha played a key role in Palace’s 3-2 FA Cup win.

Zaha is determined to keep enjoying his football for the rest of the season and deal with his United future then.

So who were the mates at Old Trafford who would be waiting for him?

He added: “There was Welbs but he’s gone,” — in reference to Danny Welbeck who joined Arsenal last summer — Alex Buttner, he’s gone as well and Shinji Kagawa.”

There are rumours Palace would like to bring Zaha home permanently.

When Pardew tried to buy him for Newcastle, the winger resisted. This time it might be different.

Zaha said: “At the time I think Newcastle wanted to sign me permanently and I was thinking ‘I can’t leave Man United permanently yet. I need to see how it goes first’.

“I’m not ruling anything out. I’m just going to play.”

Zaha says his dad’s strict rules on speaking French are paying dividends with his team-mates in the Palace attack.

Zaha was four when he and his family arrived in the UK from the French-speaking Ivory Coast and now finds himself playing alongside Marouane Chamakh and on-loan Yaya Sanogo.

He said: “It was one of my dad’s rules — everyone must speak French when they are in the house.

“It’s been like that ever since. But it’s helped as Cham, Yaya and I have a good understanding.”


SOURCE: Premier League News.