Ander Herrera: Why Boca are unique and his big dream revealed | OneFootball

Ander Herrera is experiencing a special moment at Boca. After a first year marked by injuries, the Spanish midfielder is facing 2026 with hopes of both a sporting and personal comeback, determined to enjoy what he considers a unique experience in his career.

In exclusive interviews with the club’s official channel, the former Manchester United player described what it means to wear the blue and gold jersey. “I’ve had the chance to be at great clubs and I’m very grateful for that, but Boca is different from everything else. Both for the good and the bad,” he said. He added: “The passion of Boca’s fans, the joy, the affection, and the love they give you is unique.”

Herrera also touched on the level of demand inside the club. “But the pressure here is also unique. It’s true. Defeats at this club are much tougher than at Manchester or Paris Saint Germain, where you’re expected to win every day,” he explained. He emphasized: “The pressure and tough moments at Boca hurt more.”

Far from making him uncomfortable, that pressure is part of the challenge he came looking for. “It’s something that footballers also like, I think we start playing football as kids and we always want or dream of reaching the highest level,” he said. “This is the highest, this is the peak of the peak and I like it,” he affirmed.

Along those same lines, he made it clear that he fully understands the cost of competing at Boca. “I know how hard defeat is, I know how much you suffer, I know how fierce the criticism is when things don’t go well,” he acknowledged. And he concluded: “But this is what I prepared for, or it’s why I love football so much.”

The Spaniard also explained why he decided to stay at the club despite giving up money and signing a performance-based contract. His main goal is clear and he expressed it without hesitation: “But I want to be a champion here at Boca, because here it must be something unique.”

Finally, he shared how his recent trip to Spain influenced his decision to keep playing. “I felt I needed some time to think at home, in Spain, with my people and my friends,” he revealed. And he wrapped up with a phrase that sums up his bond with Xeneize: “Football is my passion, it’s something that drives me crazy, the day-to-day makes me very happy and Boca, as I said, is the ultimate expression of all that.”

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇪🇸 here.