Hargreaves happy with success

Midfielder delighted to achieve aims at United

Last updated: 23rd May 2008

Owen Hargreaves penalty celeb

Hargreaves: Penalty success

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Manchester United midfielder Owen Hargreaves admits lifting silverware was the reason he moved to Old Trafford.

Hargreaves coolly slotted away his spot-kick in United's UEFA Champions League final penalty shoot-out victory over Chelsea on Wednesday as the Red Devils added European success to their Premier League crown.

And Hargreaves, who also won the Champions League in 2001 with former club Bayern Munich, confesses he moved to England last summer in a £17million transfer in order to become part of United's new era.

The England international now believes the Red Devils can go on to record further triumphs and that manager Sir Alex Ferguson will fine tune his squad in order to strengthen.

European glory

"That's why I came here to United," said Hargreaves when asked about United's European and domestic glory.

"Some people were saying it was about the money, which it was never about. I wanted to be part of something special.

"Most of the pieces were in place to do that but I knew I could be a good addition to the squad. I really thought we could achieve great things.

"At the beginning of the season we said we wanted to win the league and we wanted to win the Champions League.

Improve

"You hear big teams say that quite a lot, but to actually do it is quite an achievement.

"I'm sure the boss will look at things again in the summer and see what we need to do to improve, because we can always improve."

Having been plagued by niggling knee injuries in the early days of his United career, Hargreaves ended the season strongly and the 27-year-old feels he is now at full fitness.

"I didn't want to complain - that is something my dad taught me," added Hargreaves. "But I think people can now see the difference physically and what I'm able to do.

"The boss was just waiting for the right time. They put me in the right games and now I feel good. My knees have improved a lot."