Man Utd striker Owen: I have never been under so much pressure in my career

Thu, 09/22/2011

Michael Owen admits he's never been under so much pressure as he is at Manchester United.

Owen knows if he does not perform when he gets the chance, he could have weeks to dwell on it.

And that is proving tougher than when Liverpool and, indeed the whole country, looked to him in every game.

Owen, 31, said: "If I was playing every week, you could afford a bad game here or there because you can always score one in the next game. That is my first match of the season and, if I didn't play well, I would have a long time to stew on it and people would have a long time to criticise me. It puts the pressure on me.

"I have had some massive games in my career but you almost feel yourself getting nervous more these days because, as I say, it has been a while since I started.

"That negative thought in the back of your mind is definitely there going into games because you know you cannot put things right in three or four days' time like most other players who play all the time.

"I still feel I have to prove myself every time I play."