Fish, centre, celebrates scoring for United’s Under-18s in 2019 (Ash Donelon/Manchester United via Getty Images)
At United, I expected to be involved in the first team because a lot of players were still away. I started the first game alongside Jonny and thought I handled myself well in pre-season. We lost to a late goal, but we’d only been training for a few days while Rosenborg were match-fit and in the middle of their season.
Casemiro was in front, of us. Mason Mount and Rashford played. I observed Casemiro. He was so professional: always in the gym before training. On the pitch, he sees the game differently. He’s one step ahead, always wants the ball and passes around the corner.
For the game in Trondheim, we were in and out. We didn’t get a chance to see the city. There were fans outside the hotel waiting to see the other players. One fan did ask me for an autograph and knew my name. I suppose they’d remember my surname.
The next game was against Rangers at Murrayfield in Edinburgh. I could hardly tell my team-mates that I’d take them out for the night as we were in and out, but it was nice to finally beat Rangers — this time with United rather than Hibs.
Then, we went back to Manchester for a couple of nights before flying to Los Angeles for the pre-season tour. Of the first-team lads, Jonny, Harry Maguire, Tom Heaton and Scott McTominay were class with me.
Scotty played cards with us, took time to speak to me about Hibs, asked what my plans were and if I had any clubs lined up. I was in two minds — stay around and be fifth- or sixth-choice centre-half, or move and try to get myself playing every week. But then Jonny was maybe fourth choice last season and ended up playing a lot. You never know in football. Play one game, do well, and you don’t know where it can take you.
Erik ten Hag spoke to me only about football. He wants the centre-halves to wait on the ball until the opponent comes to you, then pass it off. Do that right and you can take an opponent out of the game. He wants the team to be in control, to make a back three, almost, with the two centre-halves and a midfielder. Darren Fletcher, the only British coach, came through a similar path to me. He had a good understanding of me as a player.
We stayed in an amazing hotel in Beverly Hills. I’m sure I’ll look back in 10 years and think, “Did I really travel to America with one of the biggest football clubs in the world at 21?”, but I just soaked it all in.
Fish and Erik ten Hag during United’s friendly against Rangers at Murrayfield in July (Craig Williamson/SNS Group via Getty Images)
We got a day off this year, which the lads appreciated. We played golf at the Trump course and we could go out for coffees in Beverly Hills. The first-team lads did the same and enjoyed not being recognised.
We played in front of 70,000 and 80,000. The architecture of SoFi Stadium in LA was amazing, the pitch less so — it’s not usually used for football. The atmosphere wasn’t intense.
August
We flew from LA to South Carolina to play Liverpool. I spoke to Mum and she was getting a bit stressed about my future. The uncertainty creates anxiety and other people around me were asking questions: my girlfriend, dad, stepdad, grandad and sister.
They were the ones who’d watch me play no matter where. My whole family are United fans — we’re from Manchester, so that’s normal — but all along, my agent said that what was happening was normal.
I’m pretty chilled but I didn’t know where I’d be in a week’s time. It comes to a point where I got anxious but I was always in control. I was going to have to make a choice.
And I still had to concentrate on playing. We played Liverpool in front of a huge crowd and I got injured. I was stretchered off.
It was my fault. There was a short pass and you don’t know whether to stay or go. I went for it, Harvey Blair nicked it, our knees clashed, and my right foot planted. I went over on the ankle I broke when I was younger. As I went off, there was fear in the back of my mind that I’d broken it again. I was taken into a room in the stadium and X-rayed.
Meanwhile, my mum woke up and saw that I’d been stretchered off. She was obviously very worried.
There was no break, so it was my ligaments. That meant I could fly back to Manchester straight after the game with the team. They put me in a boot and I continually iced it to keep the inflammation down during the nine-hour flight.
The physio helped me and we did the best we could do; otherwise, I would have had to stay in America. I had grade-two ligament damage, but it was a little more complicated than a standard grade-two. I went straight into rehab. I knew the timeframe of my injury — about a month — so I hoped that a club still wanted to take me. Meanwhile, Harvey, who I’d played with at United when I was younger, messaged me on Instagram.
Fish is stretchered off during United’s friendly against Liverpool in August (Peter Zay/AFP via Getty Images)
I got to the point where I had to decide on which club I wanted to join, otherwise the interested parties would move on to whoever was next on the list. I chose Cardiff City. Big club, fanbase, city and stadium, and a club that has been in the Premier League recently.
I liked their vision after speaking to the manager, Erol Bulut, a few times. He gave me a confidence and I felt really wanted. That’s the biggest thing you can have in football from a player’s perspective.
I agreed to join Cardiff on the Monday (August 19). On Tuesday, I went to say goodbye to everyone at Carrington. I waited until I knew it was happening and went to say goodbye, which was tough. I’d been at Man United for 15 years and some of the staff I knew had been there since I started.
People like Dave Bushell (United’s former academy player liaison officer) and Tony Whelan (academy advisor), two unbelievable guys who help young players and — crucially — my family. They were there to support; not just in football but in schooling too. I wasn’t one of these young lads who tossed school off because I thought I’d make it as a footballer. I tried hard and did alright in my exams — though I would have done better if I’d revised properly. Les Parry (loans manager) also kept in touch throughout my loan period and visited Edinburgh regularly.
There were physios who had helped me back from my leg break, people who’d been a big part of my life. The first-team lads were in a meeting so I couldn’t see them, but I messaged a few. It was weird driving out for the last time, yet at the same time, it felt right.
There was a mix-up over some of the paperwork, so I couldn’t fully sign until Friday morning, which is when I met my new team-mates for the first time. They were all sound. It seems like a good changing room.
We are delighted to welcome Will Fish to the Welsh capital! 💙
The central defender joins from Manchester United on a four-year deal. ✍️#CityAsOne | @_wfish
— Cardiff City FC (@CardiffCityFC) August 23, 2024
There are a lot of experienced players, Aaron Ramsey, Calum Chambers, Anwar El Ghazi and Callum Robinson, who’ve played at the top level. Aaron, who loves the club, told me that I’d enjoy Cardiff.
The club had covered the hotel for me for two weeks. It’s nice at the start, but then it starts to become a bit of a slog, just lying on your bed. Mum has been to see me, my girlfriend, too. They helped as I found an Airbnb, which I’ve got for a month while I look for somewhere properly to live. I’m living out of one suitcase. I’m a decent cook who lived by myself for two years but I’ve got nothing to cook with. I’m going to invest in some good kitchen appliances when I get my own place.
I’m looking forward to the lads getting back from the international break and training with them. I’m not going to get straight into the team but I’ve got to do the best I can — try to get into the team and stay in it.
(Top photo: Ash Donelon/Manchester United via Getty Images)
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Publish date : 2024-09-10 17:17:00
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