Mkhitaryan notes Kagawa struggles

Posted Thursday, July 28, 2016 by Foxsports.com

New Manchester United attacker Henrikh Mkhitaryan says former teammate Shinji Kagawa's spell at Old Trafford will serve as a warning about high expectations at the club.

Mkhitaryan will become the first Armenian to grace the English Premier League this season after he completed a £26.3m summer move to the Red Devils from Borussia Dortmund, but he's been first to admit his hefty transfer fee gives him no guarantee of first-team football or success.

"Of course [Kagawa's difficulties are a sign of the demands at United]," he told reporters during their pre-season tour in Beijing. "In this club, you have to try and do everything to show your best qualities, otherwise you will not be here anymore.

"So I will try to do my best, I will try to help the team win the games, try to keep fit and bring my sharpness to the team.

"But it doesn't matter if they buy me for, I don't know, 38m or 40m euros, I am not guaranteed to play the games, so I am trying to do my best during the training to earn this place to play and then we will see," the 27-year-old added.

"I don't think I will play every game, depending on the tactical situation, depending on the opponent, but I will do everything to try and help the team."

Mkhitaryan scored 41 goals and registered 49 assists in 140 games during his three seasons with BVB Dortmund.