Louis van Gaal tells David de Gea: Real won’t love you like United do
• ‘De Gea has a lot of credits here, he has to decide,’ says manager
• Van Gaal says United must learn Chelsea’s killer instinct
• Van Gaal says United must learn Chelsea’s killer instinct
Louis van Gaal has warned David de Gea of how much he will lose should the goalkeeper leave Manchester United
for Real Madrid, with fears growing that Sunday’s 1-1 draw with Arsenal
may be his last game for the team as the Spaniard injured a hamstring.
“I don’t think I can persuade him because he knows everything he has at Manchester United,” said Van Gaal after seeing Ander Herrera’s goal on 30 minutes cancelled out by a late Tyler Blackett own goal. “I don’t have to say something because he can feel it every day. You have seen the fans – unbelievable. When he is going, he is losing that. Here he has a lot of credits. He has to decide.”
De Gea was replaced after 74 minutes by Victor Valdés, who made his debut. Van Gaal signalled that United will not allow De Gea to leave without a fight. “He is from Spain and he has a Spanish girlfriend but the club won’t let him go easily.”
The 24-year-old goalkeeper’s contract expires in the summer of 2016 and he has yet to agree fresh terms worth a basic £150,000 a week offered by United. Despite the attractions for De Gea of moving to Real the decision is still proving difficult, Van Gaal said, evidence that the player may yet stay put. “You are asking things I cannot answer because I don’t know. I have also said a transfer is an individual thing. It is also a process,” the manager added. “He has to decide because we have given a fantastic contract because we want him to stay. Fantastic season, I think.
“I analyse his position and then I say he is Spanish, he is Spanish international, still behind Iker Casilla. Now a Spanish club is coming, his girlfriend is Spanish, his father and mother come every week or every two weeks here, so it is difficult.”
Van Gaal claimed he has no knowledge whether Real have made a formal offer for De Gea. “I am not doing that kind of thing,” he said, while suggesting the goalkeeper will struggle to be fit for Sunday’s final match, the trip to Hull City. “His injury is a hamstring injury so it shall be difficult to play but you never know. Every player is difficult to replace,” said Van Gaal. “Every player has his contribution to the result.”
The manager refused to state if Valdés could be the new United No1 if required. “You have to wait and see how we decide. I cannot say anything about transfers or what I like to say to the players because first I shall talk with the players and at the end with the media.”
The future of Radamel Falcao, who is on loan from Monaco, is also in the balance although the Colombian started ahead of Robin van Persie only to be replaced by the Dutchman after 61 minutes.
Van Gaal would not be drawn on whether Falcao will be at Old Trafford next season. “You know how the situation is. At the end of the season we will decide,” he said. Regarding the result, Van Gaal was unhappy at how United again failed to kill off the game, which has been a pattern this season. “The difference between Chelsea and Manchester United is that they can finish a game.
“They can kill the game. I don’t think Arsenal can do it because they lost also 1-0 last week and also Manchester City cannot do it and I think that is the difference between the top four.
“That is the mentality we have to improve.”
Arsenal require only a point from Wednesday’s home game against Sunderland to secure third position and avoid having to play in the Champions League knockout round in August.
“It takes the pressure off during the holidays and during the preparation. We have always that in mind when you prepare and it will be great when we do it, but it is still to do,” said the manager Arsène Wenger.
With United likely to finish fourth, Van Gaal concurred. “Arsène Wenger has described that very well – stressful days, you can meet a club who is halfway through a season and we have to start a season so it is difficult.”
“I don’t think I can persuade him because he knows everything he has at Manchester United,” said Van Gaal after seeing Ander Herrera’s goal on 30 minutes cancelled out by a late Tyler Blackett own goal. “I don’t have to say something because he can feel it every day. You have seen the fans – unbelievable. When he is going, he is losing that. Here he has a lot of credits. He has to decide.”
De Gea was replaced after 74 minutes by Victor Valdés, who made his debut. Van Gaal signalled that United will not allow De Gea to leave without a fight. “He is from Spain and he has a Spanish girlfriend but the club won’t let him go easily.”
The 24-year-old goalkeeper’s contract expires in the summer of 2016 and he has yet to agree fresh terms worth a basic £150,000 a week offered by United. Despite the attractions for De Gea of moving to Real the decision is still proving difficult, Van Gaal said, evidence that the player may yet stay put. “You are asking things I cannot answer because I don’t know. I have also said a transfer is an individual thing. It is also a process,” the manager added. “He has to decide because we have given a fantastic contract because we want him to stay. Fantastic season, I think.
“I analyse his position and then I say he is Spanish, he is Spanish international, still behind Iker Casilla. Now a Spanish club is coming, his girlfriend is Spanish, his father and mother come every week or every two weeks here, so it is difficult.”
Van Gaal claimed he has no knowledge whether Real have made a formal offer for De Gea. “I am not doing that kind of thing,” he said, while suggesting the goalkeeper will struggle to be fit for Sunday’s final match, the trip to Hull City. “His injury is a hamstring injury so it shall be difficult to play but you never know. Every player is difficult to replace,” said Van Gaal. “Every player has his contribution to the result.”
The manager refused to state if Valdés could be the new United No1 if required. “You have to wait and see how we decide. I cannot say anything about transfers or what I like to say to the players because first I shall talk with the players and at the end with the media.”
The future of Radamel Falcao, who is on loan from Monaco, is also in the balance although the Colombian started ahead of Robin van Persie only to be replaced by the Dutchman after 61 minutes.
Van Gaal would not be drawn on whether Falcao will be at Old Trafford next season. “You know how the situation is. At the end of the season we will decide,” he said. Regarding the result, Van Gaal was unhappy at how United again failed to kill off the game, which has been a pattern this season. “The difference between Chelsea and Manchester United is that they can finish a game.
“They can kill the game. I don’t think Arsenal can do it because they lost also 1-0 last week and also Manchester City cannot do it and I think that is the difference between the top four.
“That is the mentality we have to improve.”
Arsenal require only a point from Wednesday’s home game against Sunderland to secure third position and avoid having to play in the Champions League knockout round in August.
“It takes the pressure off during the holidays and during the preparation. We have always that in mind when you prepare and it will be great when we do it, but it is still to do,” said the manager Arsène Wenger.
With United likely to finish fourth, Van Gaal concurred. “Arsène Wenger has described that very well – stressful days, you can meet a club who is halfway through a season and we have to start a season so it is difficult.”
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