Former Manchester United player Shinji Kagawa has spoken about the 'very beautiful period' he spent being managed by Sir Alex Ferguson.
Sir Alex signed Kagawa from Borussia Dortmund during his final season at the Theatre of Dreams. In that campaign, United clinched the Premier League title allowing Ferguson to retire on a high.
As for Kagawa this would be the peak of his United career. He would make just 18 Premier League appearances under David Moyes and the Japanese international would return to the Bundesliga at the end of the 2014 summer transfer window.
ALSO READ: Wolves names huge Ruben Neves price tag amid Manchester United links
Kagawa still looks back at his time under Ferguson fondly though. In an interview with De Morgen, he explained: "I had the privilege of working with Ferguson for a year which was a great honour.
"I wanted to work with him longer, but fate decreed otherwise. It was a very beautiful period.
"Ferguson really wanted me in; I’ll never forget that. At the time, I didn’t think about that, that I was working with such a legend.
"Now I realise much better who he really is. If I’m honest, my first year at Manchester United was okay.
"We won the title, but that was because of Robin van Persie. He scored 26 goals that season.
"I didn’t have as much confidence anymore as I did during my passage at Dortmund. The adjustment in England was not always easy; there were sometimes doubts.
"A new language, system, coach, environment. Ferguson left after my first year, and I really didn’t see that coming.
"It was Ferguson who brought me to Manchester, eh. I thought I could work with him for at least another year."
Since leaving United, Kagawa's career has deteriorated. At 33, Kagawa finds himself at Sint-Truidense VV in the top tier of Belgian football.
Sign up to our United newsletter so you never miss an update from Old Trafford this season.
