"I've got to be frank, I didn't play at my best last season. I didn't play consistently well but I want to make sure that's different this season. The game against Deportivo is ideal for that - an occasion where I can hopefully continue my good form.
"It was quite a change coming to England, but that's something I never wanted to hide behind. I never wanted to use settling into a new country as an excuse.
"When I've signed for clubs in the past, there have been five or six changes at the same time as my arrival, maybe even a new manager.
"When that happens it's easier for a player to impose his own style or authority on a new team, rather than the other way around. But with United, they have had the same group of players together for a long time, played in a certain manner and enjoyed a lot of success.
"In that sense this is a different and more difficult challenge, but one I won't back down from and one I intend to enjoy.
"I'm always ready to take on board any criticism but I haven't been affected by it. I always try to do well but not everything in football is always beautifuI. I make sure I use any criticism to good effect and in my case it spurs me on to do better.
"I'd like to think I've always had the confidence of my team-mates, the staff and the manager. But when you play well in a key game like the one against Arsenal, it gives you a real personal boost.
"I hope that bodes well for the future. I don't know why my best form for United has come in Europe. It's not that I've been trying or concentrating harder in Europe than the Premiership.
"All I can do now is try and bring the consistency from the European games into those in the League.
"When a defeat happens in a game of that importance [city], particularly the manner of it, you have to take it very seriously. We spent a lot of time talking about it and, with the quality of players we have, those are not the sort of results we should be getting.
"It really hurt the pride of everyone at the club. The team is still the same, but what has changed is the attitude of all the players and their determination to succeed. Almost sub-consciously, the collective attitude has changed.
"We now know we're not guaranteed victory just by pulling on the Manchester United shirt. That's what's changed.
"Everyone is fighting for their place. No one wants to miss out and the players are rising to the challenge. I would say that, on our current form, we have a great chance of doing well in this competition. Real Madrid are the champions but, after them, there is a group of four or five clubs, of which we are one."