Man Utd reject Forlan says he has nothing to prove against Chelsea

Diego Forlan, who plays for Atletico Madrid at Stamford Bridge tomorrow night, had an awful time in the Premiership while playing for Man Utd, but doesn’t feel he has anything to prove to the English fans.

He has gone from strength to strength since leaving Old Trafford, and last year scored a massive 32 goals in 33 games, and thinks his confidence just took a knock while he was in England, but he would not be worried about returning to the Premiership.

“No one had any faith in me after what happened at Manchester United, but the people who questioned me back then are not showing their faces today,” said Forlan. “Maybe I should have had a few bets on myself when I left England for Spain because the odds on me succeeding must have been high, but my faith in my own ability never disappeared. Okay, maybe my confidence was hit by the end at United, but there is always a second chance in this life.

“It was never a case that I did not feel welcome at United because the manager and the players were fantastic to me. Even the fans supported me when I was not scoring goals, but the consistency would not come for me and in the end I had to move on.

“Joining a club like Villarreal looked like a big a step down at the time, but it was the platform I needed to start my career in Europe and I don’t think anyone can question my ability to perform in the top divisions now. Despite the past, I’m not going into these games against Chelsea thinking I have something to prove to English critics who said I wasn’t good enough. Since leaving Manchester, everyone can look at my record and appreciate I am not the bad player they said I was at United.

“Maybe one day I will be back in England and I would not be afraid to play in the Premier League again. Liverpool and Sunderland were interested in me a couple of years ago, but I am happy in Spain.”