PICTURE: ANDY HOOPER

Juan Sebastian Veron was highly revered in his playing days, and the ex-Argentina international arrived Old Trafford in 2001 for a hefty fee of £28million.

However, after two below par seasons with Manchester United, he joined Chelsea. He spent just one season in Chelsea, and didn’t look his best well.

The 41-year-old has now revealed why he failed in the Premier League.

“I don’t make excuses,” Veron told FourFourTwo. “It was a new thing for me, even if I’ve always faced change with ease. My family was happy, I was happy.

“The real change was the physical aspect. I regard fitness training as a very important thing.

“I moved from a country with intense pre-season training to another where football matches are the only way they train. In England they play the whole year: Christmas, New Year, non-stop.

“The first six months I coped with it well – really well. But after December, it was very difficult for me to keep up. I would suffer from the lack of a fitness base, I wouldn’t be able to last the whole game, and I would pick up injuries.”

After just 7 appearances in Chelsea, he joined Inter Milan on loan. He currently came out of retirement to play for his boyhood club, Estudiantes.