What has Schweinsteiger added to the United side?

There is a short and precise answer to this question which probably is also the most apt of all available answers- stability. Now that Schweinsteiger is at the club, the burden of creativity has been lifted from the ageing Michael Carrick.

Bastian Schweinsteiger, a name of the highest quality, after joining Manchester United has a made a total of 16 appearances for the club, 6 of which have been substitutions to feature in all the matches the club has played this season. Before this ‘Schmidfield’, United’s midfield was completely reliant on the shoulders of Carrick who is a veteran no doubt, but also has become prone to injuries owing to his age. Although Schweinsteiger himself is 31, his performances have shown that the amount of experience he has can easily help United and that his footballing wits have already started to display difference.

For a manager like Louis van Gaal, it is important that players adhere to his instructions and follow his ideas and that is exactly what the German has done in his 3 months at his new club. This season, United have looked more in shape and have had their tactics well cut out, thanks to Van Gaal and Schweinsteiger’s sync. United’s midfield has lacked creativity and intent since the retirement of the legendary Roy Keane and even more so after Paul Scholes. But recent performances have proved that this setup is up to the mark and that cohesion has returned. And Man Utd having dominated possession in all of their matches this season except against Arsenal, shows just that. The duties of Michael Carrick have successfully been taken over by Schweinsteiger and the duties which no player was able to fulfill for the last few seasons have been taken up by Schneiderlin.

Schweinsteiger also recently took up another responsibility-mentoring. He has decided to help Memphis and Martial unleash their potential to the maximum, and his experience will come in handy  doing so. For a player who has won the domestic league 8 times along with winning a Champions League and a World Cup medal, he will have plenty to pass on to these promising youngsters who can bloom into world-class footballers.

The creative aura has returned to the Theatre of Dreams. The Premier League seems to be the next step for the man whose seen it all, won it all.