Gabriel Obertan believes he is ready to unleash his best form for club and country.
After scoring in Champions League confidence returns to winger
Gabriel Obertan believes he is ready to unleash his best form for club and country after he was recalled to the France Under 21 squad.
Obertan, 21, was plucked from obscurity when Manchester United signed him from Bordeaux in 2009, following a loan spell at Lorient.
A serious back injury restricted his impact at Old Trafford and he was plagued by self-doubt while sidelined.
Yet, the player has enjoyed a surge in confidence after scoring in the Champions League against Bursaspor early this month.
United
"When I came to United I knew that it would be very difficult, I didn't join an average Premier League club," Obertan told
L'Equipe.
"I came from nowhere, from a loan at Lorient that didn't really go that smoothly, so I could not expect to come here and replace key members of the team straight away.
"After my injury, I had a lot of talks with the coaches and Ole Gunner Solskjaer (former reserve team manager). They told me to relax as I have the quality needed to be a success here and that I shouldn't doubt myself.
"When you see players like Scholes or Giggs working hard in training and competing with the young players, it spurs you on.
"And when Giggs, who plays in the same position as me, gives you advice, you know you will improve."
Goal
The strike against Bursaspor has also been noted by Sir Alex Ferguson, who along with the rest of the squad and coaches, is beginning to see the confidence of Obertan blossom.
And the young winger, who felt a bit like the forgotten man at Old Trafford, is determined to get them all talking about him again.
"After my goal against Bursaspor, things are really starting to look up for me. Sir Alex Ferguson has been talking to me a lot more too and giving me more advice," he added.
"All that I went through has helped me to build and develop my character. Two months ago I was down in the dumps because I was injured and thought no-one cared about me anymore.
"I don't want to feel like that anymore and I want to repay the people that had the faith to bring me here."
