Whatever criticisms that you could throw at Louis van Gaal and his management techniques, being a shrinking violet certainly isn’t one of them. This combative and up front nature has caused friction in the past but at least the Manchester United boss is straight up with his players.
And the latest to feel his wrath is Victor Valdes.
The keeper was inexplicably left out of the party which travelled to America for pre-season.
But his omission was fully, and perhaps even brutally, explained by the big man in his first Stateside press conference. LvG said:
“He is not selected because he doesn’t follow our philosophy and there is no place for that one player,” Van Gaal said.
“Philosophy is how you play football and how you maintain your match rhythm. For example, he refused last year to play in the second team.
We have learnt over the last year that the Manchester United manager is brilliant at keeping his cards close to his chest.
Many felt that, if David de Gea did leave Manchester United this summer that Valdes would be entrusted with the number one spot instead of the club spending big in the market once more.
But it’s clear from this statement that bridges between Valdes and the club have been irreparably burnt and the plot has once more thickened with regards the goalkeeping situation.
The Spaniard did respond to the criticism on Twitter by posting a message which included pictures of the games that he did play for the reserves last season.
With Hugo Lloris currently injured, perhaps it’s now more likely now that David de Gea will be asked to see out the final year of his contract before the inevitable move to Real Madrid next summer.
FINAL WORD: This may be something of a blessing because we were never sure that Valdes was the man to replace De Gea.
Big money
Jul 17, 2015 at 3:25 pm
Comment:van gaal has really tried this summer for the overhauling.but pls sign otamendi and any sharp striker that has goal sense bcs there will be more chances on front