Ander Herrera is a sponge, a sponge that has been absorbing football since it was born. Not in vain, he had a great teacher in his father Pedro, a fine midfielder who spent almost his entire sporting career at Real Zaragoza and who also played in the Unión Deportiva Salamanca and Celta de Vigo. He was later one of the most successful technical secretaries in the history of the Aragonese club. His son Ander was born in Bilbao on August 14, 1989, but grew up in Zaragoza and in that school of taste for good football took his first steps in this sport.
From very small, his mirror was that great generation of the 90 that ended up conquering the Recopa of Europe in 1995 with the unforgettable goal of Nayim and his first successes arrived at the time of those of the winner of the Glass of the King of 2001 and later Of that of 2004. It was precisely the day after that of Sevilla, where the first team beat Celta 3-1, when he got his first achievement by proclaiming himself champion and best player of the prestigious Tournament of Brunete with the Zaragocista Alevín.
It was the beginning of the story of a crack that put a major turning point in his career last Sunday, when he astonished half Europe with the relentless marking of the man who made on one of the Chelsea figures, Eden Hazard. He dried up the Belgian and even had time to give the assistance of the first goal and score the second of Manchester United.
At 27, Ander took a step further in his evolution as a footballer. Formed as an offensive midfielder, he has been delaying his position from season to season to become the one chosen by José Mourinho to fulfill a defensive order as special as that of last match.
He has learned from each and every one of the technicians he has had, keeping the best of each one of them. From those who trained him in lesser categories, passing Marcelino, Jose Aurelio Gay or Javier Aguirre until reaching four eminences with such different concepts as Marcelo Bielsa, Ernesto Valverde, Louis van Gaal or José Mourinho. Also, of course, Julen Lopetegui, who has given him the opportunity to be absolute international with Spain.
It was in Athletic Bilbao where he met the Argentine, whom he considers a master. According to Ander there is no other who lives football and study rivals like him. He always tells that Bielsa is a lover of the changes of position of players, of the continuous movement, that his perfect goal would be the one born in one side and finished in the other. He then had Valverde, who says that he is the coach who has marked him most for his exceptional handling of the wardrobe and for being a great person.
Already at Manchester United, he was under Louis van Gaal. He played many games but was not the undisputed starter. The Dutch polished him some things that are now serving him. It was the first that delayed his position, arriving to play of Guardiola or Xavi, ahead of the defense. Van Gaal, a coach obsessed with not losing the position, did not let him take risks, so he learned to keep possession of the ball and to look for the safe horizontal pass. Seldom was he allowed to try one of his usual assists vertically. The last variant that has added to his repertoire has been contributed by Mourinho and has to do with that defensive ability previously quoted. He says that Mou is a coach who works a lot of balance, meaning that, for example, if he lines up a very offensive side, he will not let the inside be too much. And vice versa.
Admiral Andres Iniesta, has always said that there is no other like Messi. Its characteristics have made since small good has appeared in the lists as a possible reinforcement of Barca. Well the high cost of the operation or other priorities that had the club azulgrana have prevented that interest fructificara. Now, with greater maturity, leadership and versatility, it is again a piece to be taken into account by the main European teams.