FORMER Manchester United star Ben Foster has admitted playing for the club was “too much” for him.
The goalkeeper signed for United in 2005 after being spotted by Sir Alex Ferguson aged just 22.
He spent five years at Old Trafford but made just 23 appearances, and had two loan spells at Watford.
Foster left for Birmingham in search of first-team football and he has admitted he found life at Old Trafford difficult due to the pressure of playing for such a big club.
He told The I: “It was too much, too big. I’m not ashamed to say that.
“I remember being so nervous going into every game thinking ‘don’t make a mistake’.
“It’s funny because if I bump into anyone who recognises me, I played for England, played for Manchester United, played nearly 400 Premier League games and they all say that penalty save for Wrexham was incredible.”
Foster, 42, retired from football in 2023 following spells with West Brom, Watford and Wrexham.
He battled a number of injuries throughout his career but actually suffered his biggest setback once he hung up his gloves.
Foster continued: “I had so many setbacks, whether it was injuries or loss of form or not being in the team, but the worst injury came after I retired.
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“I did a work thing about six months ago. It was for Emirates at St George’s Park, and it involved me playing in a six-a-side or whatever.
“It was some of the worst pain I’ve had for 48 hours. I dived for the ball, I landed hard and my shoulder just went pop. I’d never had a shoulder injury before. I was genuinely white as a ghost.
“I’m an active guy, I love to be on the move, I like my bike and I like playing golf. And I couldn’t do anything for five months. I had to have a massive operation. It was miserable. The pain was unbearable.”
