Peter Schmeichel has admitted that he left Manchester United too soon and regrets not having a conversation with Sir Alex Ferguson earlier about his need for a rest. The Danish goalkeeper, regarded as one of the finest shot-stoppers in United's history, played a pivotal role in the club's historic Treble-winning campaign in 1999.
However, that unforgettable night at the Nou Camp, where United clinched the Champions League in the most dramatic fashion, turned out to be his final appearance for the club. Schmeichel had already agreed to join Sporting CP, having grown mentally exhausted from his gruelling schedule with both club and country.
He made the decision to leave a year before his departure, after Denmark's exit from the 1998 World Cup, when Ferguson insisted he report back to the club immediately.
Speaking to former Old Trafford teammates Paul Scholes and Nicky Butt on The Good, The Bad and The Football podcast, Schmeichel said: "I was worn out, completely worn out. I'd had four consecutive years without a single break. I had the European Championship and the World Cup, so every two years. And in the years without championships, I had operations."
He added: "I played every game as well. We're in the World Cup in the July, get knocked out by Brazil. I phoned the manager the next day and said, 'When do you want me back?' And he said, 'Tomorrow.' And I'm like, 'Tomorrow? I can't.'"
Schmeichel reflected: "I should have spoken to him. I should have said, 'I want to play every Premier League game but the League Cup, you can play Raymond [van der Gouw, the second-choice keeper]. Maybe now and again, maybe not play me in a game.' I didn't realise that could have been an option."
In the following season, Schmeichel did have that conversation with Ferguson and was genuinely surprised by the response. Nevertheless, there was no reversing his decision to leave. He explained: "I knocked on the [manager's] door and said, 'I know I'm not playing well but I'm drained, mentally drained. I need a break.' And instead of arguing, he looked at the fixture list and goes, 'Yeah, you can go away there,' even though it was like two months ahead. I was like, 'Whoa,' and I started to play all right again."
He concluded: "Had I done that at the time, I probably would have stayed, I know I should have stayed."
Schmeichel spent two years at Sporting before returning to the Premier League with Aston Villa, eventually ending his playing career with Manchester City.
