Mikael Silvestre has spoken of his indifferent campaign at Old Trafford last season.
Manchester United defender Mikael Silvestre admits life at Old Trafford sunk to new depths last season.
The France international, currently representing his country in Germany, looked to be heading for an exit from the Premiership giants when Sir Alex Ferguson brought in two new defenders in the January transfer window.
In fact, the Scottish tactician told his player as much in a state of affairs that left Silvestre distraught to such an extent that he sought professional help.
"I thought my World Cup dream was in tatters just a few months ago,'' he told the News of the World.
"I was totally down and being left out at United.
"I was dropped a lot because my form wasn't good, but that made me even worse.
"I started asking myself what I was lacking, why the manager had dropped me, what I had to do to make him have faith in me again.
''That was not good for me. Alex Ferguson told me I wouldn't get to play much.
"I was desperate to find consistency in my game.
"I wanted to reach a level of performance which I could sustain and to reduce the number of matches where I'd let my level drop.''
Silvestre sought help from specialists in mental preparation, AS Optimum, and since then claims he has not looked back in winning back his place with both United and France.
"But I travelled to France to see AS Optimum a few times and we attempted to improve things together,'' he added.
"All the work that we put in really came together in the first match I was recalled to the France team.
"I want to have a good tournament with my country and then I will focus everything on doing well for United.
"I hope I am over the worst and want to look forward."
