Pereira had an impressive performance playing in midfield alongside Paul Pogba and Fred, and is determined to build on it to remain in the line-up in the coming games.
“Now I have to continue doing the work I’m doing, continue playing,” Pereira said. “Trying to improve to prove the manager and the team that I can play, that I can help the team.
“Of course there is competition. It’s normal in such a big club,. Now that I play as a midfielder I have to build the team game and help defensively. I have to steal the ball and help the midfielders. I have to do a little bit of everything, attack, defend and help the whole team.”
After impressing with Valencia and now Manchester United, Pereira has been linked with a call-up to the Brazil national team.
“My whole family is in Brazil,” Pereira said. “I am the son of Brazilian parents. I am Brazilian with Belgian nationality. I was born in Belgium because my father played football there but my parents are Brazilian and my family is Brazilian. I always see Brazil as my home. Every time I have the opportunity I go.”
Pereira also spoke about the meeting he had with Sir Alex Ferguson when he first joined the club.
“I arrived here at the age of 16. I did not expect to see him,” he said. “I was in a room to have lunch. And I saw him in a hallway and I couldn’t believe it. I was with my father and he said good day to me in Portuguese. He told me that he always had space for a Brazilian on his team.
“I didn’t want to know about anything else, I just wanted to sign the contract as quickly as possible. I’ve never forgotten that moment.”