Shinji Kagawa arrived at Manchester United with high expectations in 2012. The playmaker had just won back-to-back Bundesliga titles with Borussia Dortmund, and scored 13 goals in what turned out to be his final season in Germany. However, he hasn't been able to replicate that form in England. Kagawa has had to settle for a bit-part role at Old Trafford over the last two seasons, and made only five starts for the Red Devils in 2013-14. Used primarily as a substitute, the Japan international has failed to hold down a regular starting berth in his preferred No.10 role, and competition from Juan Mata and Wayne Rooney for that position has limited first team opportunities for the 25-year-old. Having enjoyed such a successful spell at Dortmund, where he played week in and week out, Kagawa must be regretting moving to England, because so far, the move hasn't paid off and it still remains to be seen whether or not he factors into new manager Louis van Gaal's long-term plans.
Joseph is an accredited football journalist and has interviewed nearly all of the current 20 Barclay's Premier League managers. He is also a correspondent for Bleacher Report and has written for Caught Offside and Give Me Football.
