VAN GAAL ISSUES WARNING TO
DEPAY
By Eliot Rothwell
The Red Devils boss insisted that he still
believes in the 21-year-old but suggested
that the player has to adapt if he is to
remain at Old Trafford
Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal
has warned Memphis Depay that he must
adapt to the philosophy of the club or risk
seeing his Old Trafford career end in similar
circumstances to Angel Di Maria and
Radamel Falcao.
Both Di Maria and Falcao arrived with much
fanfare at the start of the 2014-15 season,
with the Argentinian remaining the club's
record signing at £59.7 million, but the two
players have since left the club after failing
to perform.
The Argentina winger was sold to Paris
Saint-Germain in the recent transfer
window, making room for the £25 million
signing of Depay, while the Colombian
striker now plys his trade at Chelsea after
United chose not to make the loan deal
from Monaco permanent.
And Van Gaal praised the talent of Depay,
who was an unused substitute in the club's
3-0 win over Everton on Saturday, but
insisted that the Dutch winger must adapt
to the team's philosophy or face falling by
the wayside.
Some players cannot adapt to the team
philosophy, Van Gaal told reporters. That
you cannot know in advance. You have to
see that.
Because you see a lot of qualities in a
player, but Depay has to put that quality in
service of your team.
That also happened with Di María
and Falcao both great players but you
have to fit in with the philosophy. Not only
with Memphis, with every player that we
have bought.
Depay impressed in his opening handful of
appearances at Old Trafford, netting a
brace in the Champions League play-off
match with Club Brugge, but the 21-year-
old has struggled in Premier League
matches, with his form tailing off since
August.
But Van Gaal remained optimistic about the
Dutchman's future, with the United boss
insisting that he still believes in Depay and,
like all young players, the winger needs time
to progress.
"Do I still believe in him? Of course," the
former Netherlands manager added.
The problem with young players is they are
not consistent. That you have to learn. We
have to give him time.
Van Gaal also revealed that assistant
manager Ryan Giggs had been playing a
key role in the 21-year-old's development,
offering the player advice, though the Dutch
coach maintained that Depay is ultimately
responsible for himself.
Ryan has already given advice to him but
the player is responsible for his own deeds,"
said the United boss.