Bastian Schweinsteiger Talks Manchester United 'Test' After Chicago Fire Move

Bastian Schweinsteiger has said his time in the wilderness under Jose Mourinho at Manchester United was "a character test." 

The former Germany international could make his Major League Soccer debut for Chicago Fire on Saturday after he left Old Trafford following a year-and-a-half with the Manchester outfit.

The central midfielder was signed by then-manager Louis van Gaal back in July 2015 but was left to train either on his own or with the reserves when Mourinho took over last summer as he was deemed surplus to requirements by the Portuguese manager, per MailOnline's Jack Gaughan.

Schweinsteiger, 32, eventually made four appearances again for United under Mourinho, and he has revealed he never got down about losing his place in the first-team squad, per Rory Smith in the New York Times: "I'm not really a negative thinker. It was a character test, that's all. ... Even when I was training alone, just me and one of United's fitness coaches, I loved going onto the field, doing sprints, being at the training ground."

After ending the 2015-16 season injured and starting the 2016-17 campaign consigned to the fringes, Schweinsteiger forced his way back into the squad and made his first appearance of the term against West Ham United in the EFL Cup back in November.

Per Sky Football, he received a rapturous reception from the Old Trafford faithful:

He went on to make two appearances in the FA Cup and one in the UEFA Europa League at the start of 2017 before his move to the Fire was sealed.

Per Smith, Schweinsteiger explained that it was a conversation with Mourinho that saw him return to the fold at Old Trafford and said he was glad to have achieved his dream of playing "one more time at Old Trafford" so as not to leave the club under a cloud: "The manager came to speak to me. He told me something—it is not my job to say what that was—and then I was training with the first team. My dream came true."

Schweinsteiger is clearly still a hugely motivated player. "I like to win," he told Smith. "And I am used to winning, quite a lot."

During his 13-year senior Bayern Munich career he won multiple Bundesliga titles and German Cups and a UEFA Champions League, while he was a FIFA World Cup winner with Germany in 2014.

He received a great reception upon his recent arrival in Chicago, per DW Sports:

The Fire have now got in their squad a player of immense experience and continuing drive, and having brought his United career to a serene close, he should thrive in MLS.