Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho appears to have opened the door wider still for Bastian Schweinsteiger to become an important part of the squad after the German legend made his first appearances of the season this week following a period of exile.
Mourinho was clear very early in his Old Trafford reign that Schweinsteiger was not a part of his plans. But after softening and reintegrating the former Bayern Munich star into first-team training at the end of October, Mourinho surprisingly named 'Basti' on the bench last weekend.
And when distant instructions from a banned Mourinho resulted in Schweinsteiger appearing as a substitute in the EFL Cup on Wednesday, the 32-year-old was greeted with a standing ovation from United fans at Old Trafford.
"He can help us," says the boss on @BSchweinsteiger. "He is another one in the squad and he's working to have more chances." #MUFC pic.twitter.com/jyCwqKoBid
"Everybody was happy as when he was not training with the team he did it with a professional way," Mourinho commented as he addressed the media on Friday afternoon.
"He was struggling, because it is not easy, but he managed to do that without getting injured. He was continually working for a month, so we saw this as a good opportunity for him to play a little bit."
More on @BSchweinsteiger: "He deserved the happiness of the last match - I like people who are determined." #MUFC pic.twitter.com/jX3BX4t9AT
Despite links to various clubs like Sporting CP and Chicago Fire, Schweinsteiger always maintained it was dream to play for the clubagain and he seems to have won many new admirers through the way he handled himself during his ordeal, Mourinho perhaps included.
"He is one who can help us," the United boss added."He is another one in the squad and he's working to have more chances. He deserved the happiness of the last match - I like people who are determined."
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