Kasper Schmeichel feels his bit-part role at Manchester City can help him at Leeds United.
Dane wants to achieve international success
Kasper Schmeichel feels his bit-part role at Manchester City can help him secure the number one jersey at new club Leeds United.
The 23-year-old said he had 'hard time'" at City as he tried to establish himself as the Blues' first-choice goalkeeper but struggled following the signing of Joe Hart.
Schmeichel made just seven appearances, keeping four clean sheets, in his time at Eastlands so instead followed his former boss Sven-Goran Eriksson out of Manchester in favour of first-team opportunities with League Two side Notts County.
Having achieved the League Two title during his time in the Midlands, Schmeichel's crippling wages were too much for the Magpies to contend with and the young Dane decided to take up a free transfer offer to newly promoted Leeds United.
Following his cut-throat experience at the top, Schmeichel believes he can use it to his advantage to help his new club in their quest for Premier League status and emulate some of the success his father Peter enjoyed.
"I had some hard times at Manchester City and that gave me a lot of time to mature and reflect on what was going on in my career," he told
The People.
Bad time
"It was horrible. It was a bad time, but I turned it into something positive. I had to.
"The manager decided on a change and that was his prerogative. All I could do was accept it, get on with it and make sure I pushed Joe Hart as hard as I could and supported him as well as I could for the team.
"I am not one to whinge and say 'it should have been me' or 'it should have been this way'.
"Joe is a good friend of mine and I think he has done brilliantly. I am very happy for him but from a personal point of view it made me realise I had to work even harder to get where I want to be.
"That is what I did - I pushed to get a move for a long time and when it did finally come about I was ready to play every week."
The League Two title winner also wants to push for the opportunity of turning his Danish Under-21 caps into full honours which he believes he can do with regular football at Elland Road.
"Every player wants to be playing at the highest level and I can definitely get back there with Leeds," he added.
