Kasper Schmeichel has named the Manchester United players that 'moulded' his career.
As the son of legendary United shot-stopper Peter Schmeichel, the 34-year-old spent time rubbing shoulders with some of the greatest players of the Sir Alex Ferguson era when he was younger and he's revealed it encouraged him to become a professional.
Following in his father's footsteps was never going to be easy, but Schmeichel has enjoyed a successful career and has established himself as one of the league's most consistent goalkeepers in recent years for Leicester, notably winning the Premier League in 2016.
While that fairytale success is his greatest achievement, Schmeichel played an instrumental role in helping Leicester clinch the FA Cup at Wembley against Chelsea on Saturday, making a remarkable save in the latter stages to protect his side's 1-0 lead.
And, in the lead-up to that final, Schmeichel revealed how the years he spent watching United 's players 'moulded' his career.
“In the early years, it did mould me a lot," Schmeichel told the BBC. "As a kid, I wanted to be a professional football player without really knowing what that entails, but there’s no question being around those kind of people, I learnt so much and I was absorbing all the time.
"When Eric Cantona came in and as a kid, you’d look up at this guy, he looks a giant and his this aura about him and just watching the youngsters, the Neville brothers, Paul Scholes, Nicky Butt and David Beckham.
"All of them coming through, watching their hunger and enthusiasm, that definitely had a massive effect on me growing up and It still does."
