Manchester United defender Mikael Silvestre has revealed he was forced to see a shrink after being frozen out last season by manager Sir Alex Ferguson.
Silvestre said: "I thought my World Cup dream was in tatters just a few months ago.
"I was totally down and being left out at United.
"I was dropped a lot because my form wasn't good, but that made me even worse.
"I started asking myself what I was lacking, why the manager had dropped me, what I had to do to make him have faith in me again.
"That's when I had the most help from a private company I had been seeing.
"They helped greatly because they are experts in technical and tactical aspects and in mental preparation.
"They are called AS Optimum, directed by two friends of mine from Rennes, Eric Atta and Gilles Sero.
"They are very important to me and have helped get my head right."
Silvestre felt he had to seek professional advice after his rough spell at United.
In January the Frenchman was left high and dry when Fergie signed two defenders, Nemanja Vidic and Patrice Evra, in his position.
Silvestre admitted: "That was not good for me. Alex Ferguson told me I wouldn't get to play much.
"But I travelled to France to see AS Optimum a few times and we attempted to improve things together.
"I was desperate to find consistency in my game.
"I wanted to reach a level of performance which I could sustain and to reduce the number of matches where I'd let my level drop.
"Eric and Gilles took into account my place in the squad and we used a video in some of our meetings."
Silvestre said: "I thought my World Cup dream was in tatters just a few months ago.
"I was totally down and being left out at United.
"I was dropped a lot because my form wasn't good, but that made me even worse.
"I started asking myself what I was lacking, why the manager had dropped me, what I had to do to make him have faith in me again.
"That's when I had the most help from a private company I had been seeing.
"They helped greatly because they are experts in technical and tactical aspects and in mental preparation.
"They are called AS Optimum, directed by two friends of mine from Rennes, Eric Atta and Gilles Sero.
"They are very important to me and have helped get my head right."
Silvestre felt he had to seek professional advice after his rough spell at United.
In January the Frenchman was left high and dry when Fergie signed two defenders, Nemanja Vidic and Patrice Evra, in his position.
Silvestre admitted: "That was not good for me. Alex Ferguson told me I wouldn't get to play much.
"But I travelled to France to see AS Optimum a few times and we attempted to improve things together.
"I was desperate to find consistency in my game.
"I wanted to reach a level of performance which I could sustain and to reduce the number of matches where I'd let my level drop.
"Eric and Gilles took into account my place in the squad and we used a video in some of our meetings."
