Bastian Schweinsteiger thinks he knows why, when and where his Manchester United career began to stall

The German recently moved to the MLS but enjoyed his time at Manchester United.

It was rare to find a football fan that didn't feel happy for Bastian Schweinsteiger after the German marked his MLS debut for Chicago Fire with a goal because despite the fact that his career in England never really took off, the World Cup winner always handled himself professionally and properly. During his time at Old Trafford, the former Bayern Munich star only managed to make 35 appearance for the club and after Louis Van Gaal's departure, he found himself surplus to requirements under Jose Mourinho - in fact, he made just four appearances for the Portuguese manager. Speaking with SPORT1, Schweinsteiger believes that a three-match retrospective ban in December 2015 for an elbow on West Ham’s Winston Reid, coupled with an injury soon after, was the reason why his career in England never gathered momentum. Regarding the red card, during the incident, it appeared that the German had thrust his forearm into Reid's face as they jostled at a corner. Referee Mark Clattenburg spoke to both players but took no further action at the time. "I always had the objective to win the Champions League with Bayern Munich and that is why I always stayed there and didn't move abroad," Schweinsteiger said.

"I achieved that in 2013 and that defined an era. The step to Manchester was definitely an important one. Louis van Gaal called me and he wanted to have success quickly. Of course things started very well for me. We were top of the league, level on points with Leicester. "Then I got suspended and shortly after I was fouled and injured. We still won a title in the end [FA Cup] and that's not something you just win by fluke. But I had always hoped that the situation would change and that I would play for United once again, and I also succeeded in doing that in the end."

Despite this setback, it's clear that the German still has plenty to offer the MLS and we're certain that he has nothing but the best wishes of United fans.