Since moving to Everton in January, Morgan Schneiderlin has looked like a player reborn under Ronald Koeman.

In fact, some may even argue that the 27-year-old has shown more in his 10 appearances for the Toffees than he did throughout his entire time at Manchester United.

Eighteen months at Old Trafford yielded 47 outings for the Red Devils but the former Southampton star failed to ever convince the fans or the coaches he would become a mainstay in midfield.

Indeed, it was Louis van Gaal who brought him to the club and yet it turns out that Schneiderlin never really saw eye-to-eye with the now ex-Man Utd boss.

In an interview with L'Equipe, Schneiderlin has opened up on his failure to be a success at his old club and criticised Van Gaal's restrictive tactics.

Always renowned as a stickler for details, the Dutch tactician's approach particularly rubbed the midfielder up the wrong way - even leaving him feeling 'disturbed'.

“That first year with Louis van Gaal sticks in the throat a bit. I didn’t take any pleasure on the pitch," as per The Mirror.

“He left me little freedom in my game, even though I have quite a lot of experience in the Premier League.

“With him, I felt like playing a robot. They said to me, ‘You must never go and get the ball in this part of the pitch, you must not do this, that…’ These instructions may have disturbed me a little.

“When a player wonders during a game – ‘But what does the coach want me to do in this situation?’ – he begins to be less efficient.

“Especially at Manchester United, in a context where all matches are scrutinised by the media and where one can quickly be criticised from everywhere.”

Although Van Gaal was replaced by Jose Mourinho last summer, Schneiderlin's fortunes did not change with the Red Devils.

The Frenchman fell way down the pecking order over the first few months of the season, leaving him little choice but to seek regular football elsewhere in the winter.

And just a few months later, Schneiderlin is showing signs of his former self and reaping the rewards of linking up with Koeman again at Everton.

After Bastian Schweinsteiger was also allowed to leave Old Trafford, Mourinho will be hoping he isn't made to rue the decision to sell Schneiderlin as United head into their busiest period of the season.