With the new Premier League season fast approaching, Manchester United legend Peter Schmeichel has shared his honest views on what needs to change at Old Trafford, offered praise for Tottenham’s trophy-winning approach, and revealed who he believes has reshaped modern football. His insights come in the latest episode of Sofascore’s YouTube series A Guest and a Half – 45 minutes of small talk, big names, and stoppage time.
This is just the first part of an interview with Peter Schmeichel, and you can watch the full thing here:
The Treble-winning goalkeeper didn’t hold back on United’s Europa League final performance:
“We finished 15th in the Premier League and lost 18 games. That’s nearly half the season. It’s not just this year, this is years of bad decisions since Sir Alex Ferguson left. It all exploded this season.
So, the Europa League final was a chance. A gift. Win that, and we’re in the Champions League. It could’ve changed the entire summer.
But to win a final, you have to turn up. You have to try. And that’s what disappointed me… You can lose a final, but only if you leave everything on the pitch. And we didn’t.”
On Tottenham’s approach in the Europa League final:
“That’s good management. You adapt. You play to win. Yes, every fan wants to win in style – but if that’s not possible, they still want to win. No fan wants to lose beautifully every week.”
Schmeichel also reflected on the unique demands of playing for Manchester United:
“If you don’t have a 10 in confidence and mental resilience, you’re not playing for Manchester United. Every single thing you do, every little mistake, is noticed… With Manchester United, it’s always on. Everywhere you go, whether it’s with the club or privately, the attention is just incredible.”
He gave insight into his leadership battles with Steve Bruce and Gary Pallister, and why Brian Robson remains the best captain he ever played with.
On Luis Enrique’s PSG and what it means for the game’s future:
“I know he was a top candidate for Man United at one point, but he wanted to stay with Spain until after the World Cup in Qatar, so we missed that chance. What he’s done at PSG has changed football. That’s how football will be played from now on.”
The conversation also touched on how football has changed since his own playing days, and how Kasper Schmeichel grew up in a data-driven era that’s now the norm in professional football.
“Players wear GPS vests in every training session. I know all about this through my son. Every day, he receives an email with his performance data. And everything is filmed. They can even go back and watch the entire training session. Isn’t that amazing?
For Kasper, no – it’s not too much. He’s used to it. That’s how he’s been trained, how he’s been brought up in football. But for me? I absolutely hated it when a coach would come up to me before a match and say, ‘This striker always does this in this situation.’ I didn’t want to hear it.”
Schmeichel also shared his thoughts on working with CBS and Pete Radovich:
“I actually think the whole show is a game changer in how football broadcasting is done. It’s much more fun, more entertaining, but still very serious and analytical… You can leave the desk, walk around with a cordless mic, and talk to people even while on air, that was unheard of just a few years ago. What that does is draw the viewer into a more live, authentic experience. That’s a credit to CBS and Pete Radovich. I love it.”
The episode also features Schmeichel rating himself across 12 key goalkeeping attributes in true Sofascore style, leading to a few laughs, some surprise scores, and one perfect “10” for communication. Along the way, he revisits moments from his career and explains how modern football’s direct style is changing the way the game is played.
From penalty stories at Brøndby to tactical takeaways from the Champions League final, this is Peter Schmeichel in full – honest, detailed, and with plenty for Premier League fans to debate.
You can read the whole interview on this link.
And this is only part one of the interview, with part two coming soon.