United midfielder ‘has a clear conscience’ despite match-fixing inquiry

Manchester United midfielder Ander Herrera has said his "conscience is totally clear" despite being named in a match-fixing probe in Spain.

The 25-year-old stated his innocence on his official Facebook page after it was confirmed that he and Swansea winger Jefferson Montero were among 41 people mentioned in an investigation report produced by the anti-corruption prosecutor’s office in Spain.

The investigation, the first of its kind in Spain, alleges that €965,000 was paid in cash by then Real Zaragoza coach Javier Aguirre and nine of his players, including Herrera, with their club’s consent to the Levante players ahead of their Primera Division game in the 2010-11 campaign.

Zaragoza won 2-1 in Valencia on May 21, 2011, a result that allowed them to avoid relegation to Spain’s second division.

Herrera though is adamant he has not committed any offence.

He wrote on Facebook: “In an ongoing legal process involving Real Zaragoza, the club I was honoured to play for from 12 until 22 years of age, there are 41 people cited as possible witnesses, of which I am one.

“I have never had and will never have anything to do with manipulating match results.

“If I am ever called to testify in any judicial hearing, I’ll be happy to attend, as my conscience is totally clear.

“I love football and I believe in fair play, both on and off the pitch.”

Meanwhile, Phil Jones hopes he will finally be able to rid himself of the “injury-prone” tag that has dogged him throughout his career.

This season may be reaching the halfway point, but Jones has played just five times for Manchester United.

Ever since he broke on to the scene as a teenager at Blackburn five seasons ago, his career has been interrupted by injury — something that understandably frustrates him.

“It’s just the nature of football. People don’t wake up one morning and say I fancy being injured today, it is just the way it is,” the United defender said.

“I started the pre-season and played every single game and every single training session.

“I’d never had a muscle injury in my life and then on international duty, I pulled my hamstring so that was disappointing. And when I was coming back I then had shin splints.

“I didn’t go into training and say I wanted to get injured that morning, it is just the way it has been. It has been unfortunate.”