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• Ángel Di María set to start against West Ham despite burglary trauma
Louis van Gaal believes that when Manchester United
consistently find their best form they will be the country’s No1 team,
though the manager said it also depends on how Chelsea and Manchester
City develop.
United trail Chelsea by 10 points and City by five yet Van Gaal, who will deny an FA charge of bringing the game into disrepute during the FA Cup fourth round replay against Cambridge United, believes his side can improve all aspects of their play.
Asked if he was confident that if United perform at their finest week in and week out they will be the Premier League’s finest team, Van Gaal said: “That’s a difficult question – because we can improve still a lot of things in our matches. But when I see where we are now – we are already third, and we have to improve still a lot, in my opinion – yeah, at the end maybe we can see we are the best team.
“But it’s also dependable on the process of Chelsea and Man City because you have to compare always.”
This week there was an attempted burglary at Ángel Di María’s house when the forward was at home with his wife and child. He and his family have moved to a hotel temporarily and Van Gaal admitted the incident could affect the £59.7m record signing’s form and happiness in Manchester.
“Yes, you are right, your analysis is good,” the manager said. “I believe in the total human being principle. So his environment is also important. But nevertheless, he was worried about his wife and child. I have spoken with him, and he wanted to play against Cambridge United [on Tuesday evening] and I played him. I have decided in the past that I will never play a player in those circumstances, because of the total human being principle. But with him, I had the feeling that I had to give him a chance to play and I was happy that I let him play. He played very well. And of course, I have to decide Sunday again, but when you have seen his performance against Cambridge, I don’t think I have any doubt.”
Van Gaal said Ander Herrera has to improve if the Spaniard is to win a regular starting berth. “I have to compare him with people like [Wayne] Rooney and [Juan] Mata, for example, so that’s difficult, they have all a high level – he has to improve. He’s a great guy, he’s a very great professional also, so that’s not the problem.
“His problem is he has to compete with high-level players. But that he did already know at the moment that he signed for Man United. When you sign for a top club like he did he knows that he has to fight but he is fighting – I said this week that he was coming back. A lot of weeks he was down [his level of play] but now he is coming back.”
Of the FA charge, Van Gaal said: “I am not angry, I am very disappointed. I am now for nearly 30 years a trainer-coach or manager and I have never been charged. And still, up to now, I don’t think that I said something wrong. Of course, I will contest it.”
On Friday afternoon, Van Gaal attended a memorial to mark 57 years since the Munich air disaster in which 23 people died, including eight players and three United staff.
He said: “I represent the club nowadays as a manager and my group of players. They were also a group of players who brought a lot of joy to the people at that time. I think they have played a big part of the history of this club. I think we have to remember that always. There were men who were singing and I was impressed. I want to read in front of you what they said because I was impressed because of the big influence they still have now.
“These were the last sentences: ’You are the strength and inspiration for those who play your roles today’ – that’s me and the players – ’We look for flair and pace and passion, to play the game United’s way.’ “
When asked if his United play in this style, Van Gaal concurred. “It’s not a question playing with wingers or three or four defenders, it is a playing style that is attractive.”
United trail Chelsea by 10 points and City by five yet Van Gaal, who will deny an FA charge of bringing the game into disrepute during the FA Cup fourth round replay against Cambridge United, believes his side can improve all aspects of their play.
Asked if he was confident that if United perform at their finest week in and week out they will be the Premier League’s finest team, Van Gaal said: “That’s a difficult question – because we can improve still a lot of things in our matches. But when I see where we are now – we are already third, and we have to improve still a lot, in my opinion – yeah, at the end maybe we can see we are the best team.
“But it’s also dependable on the process of Chelsea and Man City because you have to compare always.”
This week there was an attempted burglary at Ángel Di María’s house when the forward was at home with his wife and child. He and his family have moved to a hotel temporarily and Van Gaal admitted the incident could affect the £59.7m record signing’s form and happiness in Manchester.
“Yes, you are right, your analysis is good,” the manager said. “I believe in the total human being principle. So his environment is also important. But nevertheless, he was worried about his wife and child. I have spoken with him, and he wanted to play against Cambridge United [on Tuesday evening] and I played him. I have decided in the past that I will never play a player in those circumstances, because of the total human being principle. But with him, I had the feeling that I had to give him a chance to play and I was happy that I let him play. He played very well. And of course, I have to decide Sunday again, but when you have seen his performance against Cambridge, I don’t think I have any doubt.”
Van Gaal said Ander Herrera has to improve if the Spaniard is to win a regular starting berth. “I have to compare him with people like [Wayne] Rooney and [Juan] Mata, for example, so that’s difficult, they have all a high level – he has to improve. He’s a great guy, he’s a very great professional also, so that’s not the problem.
“His problem is he has to compete with high-level players. But that he did already know at the moment that he signed for Man United. When you sign for a top club like he did he knows that he has to fight but he is fighting – I said this week that he was coming back. A lot of weeks he was down [his level of play] but now he is coming back.”
Of the FA charge, Van Gaal said: “I am not angry, I am very disappointed. I am now for nearly 30 years a trainer-coach or manager and I have never been charged. And still, up to now, I don’t think that I said something wrong. Of course, I will contest it.”
On Friday afternoon, Van Gaal attended a memorial to mark 57 years since the Munich air disaster in which 23 people died, including eight players and three United staff.
He said: “I represent the club nowadays as a manager and my group of players. They were also a group of players who brought a lot of joy to the people at that time. I think they have played a big part of the history of this club. I think we have to remember that always. There were men who were singing and I was impressed. I want to read in front of you what they said because I was impressed because of the big influence they still have now.
“These were the last sentences: ’You are the strength and inspiration for those who play your roles today’ – that’s me and the players – ’We look for flair and pace and passion, to play the game United’s way.’ “
When asked if his United play in this style, Van Gaal concurred. “It’s not a question playing with wingers or three or four defenders, it is a playing style that is attractive.”
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