Van Gaal: I warned Januzaj
about Dortmund move
21 November 2015 11:02
Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal
says he was always concerned that
playmaker Adnan Januzaj would not get
enough regular match action at Borussia
Dortmund.
The 20-year-old joined Thomas Tuchel's men
on loan at the beginning of the season, but is
still waiting to make his first Bundesliga start,
having only been named in two starting line-
ups in the Europa League.
Van Gaal fears he has been proven right
following his initial concerns about the move
and feels a switch to a Premier League side
would have given Januzaj more of the game
time he needs to develop.
"At a club like Borussia Dortmund, all the
players are also of a certain level," said the
Dutchman.
"I said in advance that is a big risk, because
you have to compete with other players of a
higher level and that is not so easy.
"It is the same as at Manchester United. He
has to compete with higher-level players. I
want him to play all the matches and that is
why I wanted to play him in the Premier
League, but he chose Borussia Dortmund.
"We have to wait and see [if the move works
out] because now he doesn't play. I am
certain he has the talent to play, but he has to
learn a lot of things.
"Talent is important, but so is the character to
develop your talent. And he can learn that."
Januzaj came off the substitutes' bench to
create a goal for Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang
during Dortmund's 3-1 loss at Hamburg on
Friday.