On The Ball | Late-bloomer Macheda the main man in Greece, but wishes he could have made it in Manchester
- Federico Macheda is at the top of the Greek league’s scoring charts with the season on hold
- Panathinaikos striker has enjoyed a nomadic career so far, but feels settled in Greece
Federico Macheda was in fine form when Greek football came to a stop last month.
“My best season in my career with 10 games still to play,” he said. Two goals in his final game meant the Panathinaikos striker had eight in 11 as his team shook off their woeful early season form to rise from tenth to fourth. His goal in a win against champions and league leaders PAOK Salonica in February was key.
“Actually, I scored against PAOK home and away,” he added. “And then football stopped and I’m in Athens with my wife and our son. The rest of my family are in Rome and I speak to them every day. It’s not easy when you don’t play ... we have little idea when we can go back.”
Macheda is pushing himself, something his former Manchester United teammates said he should have done more when he was at Old Trafford.
“They were right,” he said. “My mentality has changed a lot from when I was younger, the way I work, prepare and the way I am mentally. Everything has changed. I look after my body and my mind. Mindset is vital for football. I make plans, I have strategies, I have a stable life now off the field which is important. I’m pushing myself more and more and it’s working. I’m becoming the player I always wanted to be, an important footballer.”