Wayne Rooney rates this season as the worst of his career - but he takes consolation from Manchester United's position in the Premier League.
Rooney helped United move four points clear at the top of the Premier League table on Saturday as they romped to a 4-0 success at Wigan.
The 25-year-old scored at the DW Stadium, but it was only his seventh goal of the season, which he admits has been a struggle.
The England forward, who was also accused of elbowing Wigan's James McCarthy during the game, came into this season following a desperately disappointing World Cup campaign.
Then in October he handed in a transfer request at Old Trafford before retracting that and signing a new long-term deal.
And he admits he has never had such a tough time since making his breakthrough as a 16-year-old with Everton.
"I have to say it's been a difficult season for me - probably the worst I've ever had," he told the News of the World.
"That week when I asked for a transfer was something I wouldn't want to go through ever again, but I feel I made the right decision to stay because this club is always going to be challenging for trophies.
"I picked up a few niggles as well and missed a few games, so I didn't really feel like I was playing a part.
"The good thing is that I feel fresh at a time when most players are picking up injuries or feeling jaded.
"I really want to kick on from here and have a big impact on the most important matches of the season."
Rooney in the last few weeks has showed glimpses of getting back to his bes and scored a brilliant overhead kick which won the Manchester derby against City earlier in the month.
"The goal against City gave me a big lift because it was in such an important game. I've seen it again quite a few times and I'll never get sick of it," he added.
"We're happy with the position we have put ourselves in - and we know it could have been even better
"This is usually the time of year when we really go for it. We want the title back. It was hard losing it to Chelsea as we did."
Rooney travels with United to Stamford Bridge on Tuesday, and he admits the West London ground is not his favourite hunting ground.
"We've got a really terrible record at Stamford Bridge - in fact, I don't think I have ever won there in my entire career," he said.
"I've got some pretty bad memories about the place, like the time when I fell down and broke my metatarsal just before the 2006 World Cup.
"But you get these things in football and there's no way to explain them.
"It won't play on our minds. If anything, it will make us even more determined to go there and win.
"It's a really massive game and Chelsea need to win it more than we do. Hopefully the pressure will tell on them.
"I am a bit surprised to see them so far behind us in the league but I would never write them off completely.
"They have shown down the years they are a team capable of going on a long run of winning games.
"We can make it really hard for them by beating them but they will be thinking the same thing about us because it will have a big say on where the title goes."
The win at Wigan put United four points clear and Rooney admits they are in good shape.
He said: "It has been a season where we have had to stick together as a team and grind out results, even when we haven't been playing well.
"To be honest, sometimes you get just as much satisfaction winning that way as you do when you play entertaining football.
"I think it shows how strong we are as a team. It all stems from the manager but the pressure is always there to win trophies.
"We don't care how we do it as long as it's us lifting them at the end of the season."
