New Manchester United signing Bastian Schweinsteiger believes he will prove he still has what it takes to perform at the highest level after clinching what he describes as a dream move to the Barclays Premier League.
The German legend begins his United career against Club America in a tour friendly in the early hours of Saturday morning after agreeing a £15million transfer from Bayern Munich last week.
Back home German legend Franz Beckenbauer has questioned the 30-year-old's move, suggesting that a move to the American MLS may have suited him better given his recent history with knee troiuble.
Bastian Schweinsteiger is out to prove he still has what it takes to make it at the highest level
But Schweinsteiger claimed that he still has the ability to have an impact on a club he revealed that he could have joined five years ago.
'I don't know at what age Beckenbauer moved to America,' he said. 'I am 30. It is a challenge for me to prove I can do it here. I had my knee trouble after the World Cup which was very intensive for me and I had a break at October.
'But I have a lot of experience in big matches and that is an advantage. I am confident I can adjust to the Premier League. My style of play is to control a game.
'You have to be smart in your brain and fast. For me it is very important to control a situation in defence. You can always score goals but you have to add stability in the defence.
'I had the chance to join United in 2010. I thought about what to do. There were opportunities. But my goal was always to win the Champions League with my club Bayern Munich. Now I am happy to be here.
'My brother is a huge Manchester United fan. He is a big Eric Cantona and Ryan Giggs fan. It was always a dream to be a Manchester United player.
'I saw the 1999 Champions League final between United and Bayern at home. My brother had the United jersey on and I had Bayern's. I didn't cry but my brother was very happy.
Schweinsteiger begins his United career against Club America in a tour friendly on Saturday morning
'I always followed the Premier League and we watched a lot of United games with my brother.'
Schweinsteiger arrives at United having won eight Bundesliga titles, a Champions League and, of course, last summer's World Cup in Brazil.
The challenge now, he believes, is to help put United back on top of the English game and he believes manager Louis van Gaal – who he worked with at Bayern – is the man to do that.
'That is my goal for my time here,' he said. 'I want to win titles and this is what Manchester United is used to and I am the same. I cannot guarantee titles but I will guarantee that we will do everything to be successful in the season.
'I want to make a positive impact. I think I can contribute a lot to the team.
'In Germany we had two seasons when Borussia Dortmund were the champions twice in a row. I also remember the Champions league seasons before we won the Treble with Jupp Heynckes, once against Inter Milan in Madrid and in Munich against Chelsea.
'You learn a lot from these defeats and situations. It was a progress. It is the same at Manchester United. I know the club are looking forward to winning titles again and I am the same.
United assistant manager Ryan Giggs (left) and Schweinsteiger chat on the first day of their pre-season tour
Schweinsteiger arrives at United having won eight Bundesliga titles, a Champions League and the World Cup
'They are the biggest club in the world and I am sure this team has the quality to win titles. He [Van Gaal] wants to have success and if he doesn't have success one season then he is more hungry.
'I know maybe sometimes he is not so easy but what I love is that he always wants the best. He wants to improve in every second. He is honest to you.
'This is why in Munich the fans and the team loved him so much. Of course at first it was a little bit different but the relationship grew and we loved him.'
Such is Schweinsteiger's standing in Germany that several journalists from his home country have travelled to America to observe him on this tour.
The player himself, however, believes he has joined a club even bigger than the one he has left behind and is looking forward to following in the midfield footsteps of players like Roy Keane and Paul Scholes.
Schweinsteiger promises to prove he can still dominate at the highest level in the Premier League
'United are more popular around the world,' he said. 'There is a difference and I could see that. Bayern Munich is a big club but Manchester United is bigger.
'When we were in China people knew us but Bayern were not so big in America. Roy Keane and Paul Scholes were unbelievable players. You cannot compare yourself to them. It is impossible.
'Scholes especially I like him a lot and I have a lot of respect for what he did for United. It was not easy and always tough to play against United. I just want to add my quality to United's game.
'When I see what we do in practise and the quality we have I am sure we have the chance to win titles. I am convinced about that.'
