Since the turn of 2010 we've seen a different Nani. What's your secret?
There's no secret [laughs]. At the beginning of the year I made a decision to work harder than ever before. I just focused on one thing and that was to become a better player. Every day when I go out on the training pitch I want to be better than I was the day before.

Haven't you always thought like that?
From the time I turned professional at Sporting Lisbon I've always tried my best, but at the start of 2010 I made an extra effort. I changed the way I operated: I spent more time out on the training pitch, I concentrated harder than ever and I practised getting better at all the things that I'm not so good at.

What sort of things?
One of the big things I've improved upon is my work off the ball. In the past, I wasn't concentrating as much as I should have been when I didn't have the ball. Now I'm thinking all the time about what positions I should be taking up, what runs I should be making and when to make them. I'm thinking more about the game rather than just playing it.

Has Sir Alex had any input?
Of course. He always gives me advice. At the start of the year he told me how important it was that I defend well. He said that if I did then I'd be able to attack better. And it's true. When I came to Manchester United I thought a lot about attacking, but now I feel more mature and I know how important it is to contribute defensively, too. Sometimes you have to play deeper and draw the other team forward so you can counter-attack.

How did Cristiano Ronaldo's departure affect your career?
Well, it's easier to stand out now [laughs]! He was a fabulous player who got all the attention, and rightly so. I used to love playing with him. It was exciting and we had a good understanding together but it's true that when he left Manchester United it left space for other players to shine. I saw an opportunity to prove my quality and to show people what I can do. And that's what I've done.

Now your name is one of the first that United fans look for on the teamsheet. Are you comfortable being one of the club's stars?
Yes. I play football for one reason: I want to leave my mark. When I retire I want people to talk about me. I want them to say: "Nani was a great footballer." I want to do something very special with my life. But I know I'm not there yet and to achieve that I need to work hard.

The fans now seem to look to you during difficult moments of games. Do you enjoy that pressure?
It's an honour. I've heard people talk about my capacity to do something special or change a game. To have people expect things like that from you proves that you must be doing well. It gives me a lot of confidence.

Do you think you should you have been nominated for the 2010 Ballon d'Or?
It's not for me to say, although I think I've played some good football this year. But I know I can be even better and now my aim is to be among next year's Ballon d'Or nominations. I hope I can achieve that.

Of course, 2010 hasn't been plain sailing. You missed the World Cup...
Yes, that was so hard. It was a very difficult moment for me because I was in good form and I felt confident I was going to have a big impact at the World Cup. I expected to do well in South Africa but I injured my shoulder and couldn't play.

Instead, you had to rest during the summer. Is that a reason behind your continued good form since then?
Maybe. As soon as I knew I was out all I was thinking about was recovering quickly and playing again for Manchester United. I wanted to stay positive and perform even better this season. In a strange way I felt more powerful - there was no way I was going to let one injury get the better of me and drag me down.

United will undoubtedly challenge for top honours again. But are you happy with how the team has been playing?
It's true we had a tough start to the season. We drew games at Everton and Fulham that we should have won and only just managed to get a point at Bolton and Sunderland. But since then we've looked a lot better and, slowly,
we are getting to somewhere near our best. Nobody is upset or panicking as we all know what this team is capable of.

Capable of winning the league?
Of course. Manchester United are always good enough to win the league. That's the aim every season and we believe we can do that again. Last season we did so well and challenged Chelsea right up until the last game. We came so close - one point - and that was disappointing. It was the first time for me that I've experienced what it feels like to not win the league in England. I don't want to feel that way again. If we concentrate on playing football and believe in ourselves then we can finish the season on top.

Who stands in United's way?
Chelsea.

That's it?
I think so. Manchester City can put up a good fight at the moment but I don't think they're strong enough to last until May. Arsenal are another good side but they drop too many points against teams you'd expect them to beat. I can't see anybody but United or Chelsea winning the Premier League this season. I just hope it's United! 

This article appeared in the February 2011 issue of Australian FourFourTwo magazine. To buy back copies of this issue call 03-8317-8121 with a credit card to hand.