Manchester United defender Nemanja Vidic believes that being entrusted with the captaincy has helped him improve his mindset.
Speaking exclusively to FourFourTwo, the Serbian was quick to point out that while the armband has brought about a change in mentality, it has not changed him on the pitch.
"I have more responsibility as captain and a different motivation to do better," he says in the July issue of FourFourTwo magazine, out now. "But I don’t think anything has changed in the way I play."
Vidic’s five years at Old Trafford have reaped an impressive 12 trophies, including four Premier League titles and a European Cup.
His debut season as skipper saw a record 19th league title brought to Old Trafford – leading to a second Barclays’ Player of the Season award – despite a common perception that this particular title-winning side is one of the weakest in recent years.
Although disagreeing with this sentiment, Vidic was unsure as to whether he personally had enjoyed his best season in a United shirt.
"It’s hard to say if I’ve played my best football this season," he reflected. "As a team we’ve had a good season, but is it my best? I’m not sure.
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"Three years ago, we lost just 22 goals in the Premier League, whereas this year we have lost more than 30. As a defender you feel better when you lose less goals!"
The full in-depth interview with Nemanja Vidic can be found in the July issue of FourFourTwo – out now – in which the defender talks about defensive partnerships and how the Serbian War made him a fighter.
The issue also features an exclusive one-on-one with Rafael van der Vaart and an in-depth report on how to save Brazil ahead of the 2014 World Cup. Subscribe now!
Gregg Davies is the Chief Sub Editor of FourFourTwo magazine, joining the team in January 2008 and spending seven years working on the website. He supports non-league behemoths Hereford and commentates on Bulls matches for Radio Hereford FC. His passions include chocolate hobnobs and attempting to shoehorn Ronnie Radford into any office conversation.
