Daley Blind wants to prove himself to new Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho – despite reports suggesting he will be sold this summer.
Blind was signed in 2014 by Louis van Gaal, who had given him his Holland debut the year before.
United paid Ajax £13.8million to land the Dutchman from Ajax, who has racked up a mammoth 56 appearances last season.
However, with Van Gaal sacked and Mourinho appointed, Blind knows he will have to win the trust of the new boss.
“I’ve met Jose several times but don’t know him personally,” Blind said.
“For example, I played for Ajax against Real Madrid when he was the coach of Madrid, so I saw him then.
“I think he’s a coach who’s achieved a lot and I’m very excited to work with someone like him.
“I’m going do my best and work very hard.”
A natural defensive midfielder, Blind spent most of the season playing at centre-half alongside Chris Smalling.
However, Mourinho has been linked with moves for a number of centre-backs including John Stones, Raphael Varane and Kostas Manolas.
And with the Portuguese boss reportedly scouring Europe for his replacement, Blind is said to be a £14m target for Barcelona.
But the 26-year-old is determined to remain at the centre of defence for United.
“I think I’ve shown I can defend as well as a [natural] central defender in the Premier League,” Blind added.
“If you look at our defending statistics at United, we had the most clean sheets and conceded the fewest goals in the Premier League [35, joint with Tottenham].
“That’s something we can be proud of.
“I played almost every game and that gives me a good feeling.”
COMMENTS