Image Credit: Dean Mouhtaropoulos / Getty Images
Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal has unfavourably compared Memphis Depay’s struggle with form to Angel Di Maria and Radamel Falcao’s performances at the club, laying the responsibility of his improvement firmly upon the shoulders of the Dutch winger.
Depay was benched for United’s game against Everton, with Van Gaal stating that this decision was due to Depay failing to put in a good performance as part of the Netherlands squad during the international break. “Selection is dependable on the game plan,” Van Gaal said, adding: “It is dependable on the qualities of the opponents, which players I want to select for the line-up and also dependable on the defeat of the Dutch team.”
With Depay having admitted that he is struggling with the physical demands of the Premier League, Van Gaal has revealed that his assistant and Man U legend Ryan Giggs has been giving the 21-year-old guidance, though the manager has stated that it is firmly down to Depay to step up his game.
Van Gaal said: “Ryan has already given advice to him but the player is responsible for his own deeds. You have to give respect to your team philosophy.”
Ryan Giggs has been tasked with giving advice to Depay. (Image Credit: Michael Regan / Getty Images)
However, the Dutch coach also noted how Depay’s struggles to reach the club’s expectations of him echoed the United careers of Angel Di Maria and Radamel Falcao. The managed continued: “We have seen that some players cannot adapt to the team philosophy. You cannot know in advance before you buy them. You have to wait and see. That happened with Angel Di Maria and [Radamel] Falcao.”
Van Gaal also noted how he still believed that Depay could live up to his potential in the Premier League, noting how young players “need time” to adjust and can tend to be inconsistent.
