United's Portuguese winger is feeling more settled at Old Trafford after the goalscoring start he's made to 2009, and is now looking to put together a run of first-team games...It's fair to say that Nani, despite his obvious skills, has had a reasonably hard time establishing himself at Manchester United, certainly in the hearts of the fans.
Often criticised for his percieved failings by the supporters, the winger had confessed to feeling a little out of sorts in Manchester, but is feeling much better now that he has found the net.
The Portuguese international converted a penalty in the FA Cup third round tie against Southampton at the beginning of January, and added to that with a superb long-range effort in the Carling Cup semi-final on Tuesday night in Manchester United's 4-3 aggregate victory over Derby County.
He is now hoping that those strikes might get a few of the critics off his back and allow him a little space in which to prove himself.
"Last season was good. I was pleased with my games and my contribution to the team," explained the 22-year-old in today's Manchester Evening News. "This season I hoped it would be better. When I get my chances my aim is to do better than I did at the start of the season.
"I want to play more. I would like to play more times but it hasn't been the same as last season.
"I feel good when I play and I try to do my best to help the team. In some games I have done well but others I haven't done so well, but this is football."
Nani is also hoping for a steady run of games in the first team, in order to maintain his fitness and keep him sharp and performing at his best.
"Your fitness when you don't play every week suffers. But I am training good and keep preparing for the next match and hope to play," he added.
"My focus is always on doing well for the team. If I do that then everything will be going well for me.
"I am still confident. It is difficult when you play one game and then are out for two matches. You want to stay in for a run of matches.
"You really need three, four or five games for your confidence to build and your fitness to be right. You can do anything when your confidence is high."
With young Serb Zoran Tosic making his first appearance on the United bench for that tie with Derby, Nani faces yet more competition for his place in the side though. It seems that one of the drawbacks of playing for a club like United is that someone else is always after your shirt.
Resource: Goal.com
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