Van Gaal Expects Di Maria To Stay At United

Louis van Gaal has praised Angel Di Maria’s determination to produce his best form for Manchester United and expects the club-record signing to stay at Old Trafford next season.

Di Maria joined the Reds from Real Madrid in late August and has since scored four goals and registered 10 assists in 30 appearances. While that is certainly an admirable tally for his debut campaign in England, the Argentinian is yet to display the consistency that has made him one of the world’s top players.

When asked at his pre-match press conference if Di Maria will remain in Manchester next season, van Gaal replied: “I think Di Maria shall stay. He cannot say that he has had a marvellous season here, but he is working very hard. I am pleased with his attitude, so that is not a problem.

“The manager and the club is always dependable on the opinion of the player himself. The player decides, so we shall see what he decides. The decision is not only [down] to him because we have a contract, so we shall speak always with every player and evaluate, as I always do. Then we speak with each other about the future, and that is [the case] with every player.”

Asked if Di Maria’s form may have suffered due to his participation in last summer’s World Cup, when he helped Argentina reach the final, van Gaal agreed that might be an accurate assessment.

“I hope! You cannot always say that is the main factor. Of course, it plays a role and I hope it is that, because then we can have a fantastic season next season. You have to adapt to our philosophy and that is also difficult for him, probably. Normally he shall have a fantastic season, I believe in that.”

Meanwhile, Di Maria is looking to reclaim his starting place in Saturday’s match with West Bromwich Albion at Old Trafford and the manager has hinted the 27-year-old could be included in his line-up.

“Normally he would have played, but in the last few weeks the team was winning so he wasn’t been able to play. Now, we have been losing matches, so the chance of him coming back is higher. It is always like that.”

One player who will definitely not feature against the Baggies is Michael Carrick, who is still unavailable through injury. The playmaker has been central to United's good form this season and van Gaal admits he is missed.

Asked if Carrick will play again this season, the boss says: "Yes, I had expected that he could play this weekend, but it is a matter of time. When you see in our team, he is a holding midfielder and we don't have so much [of them]. When [Daley] Blind and Carrick have been injured, we have had a big problem.

"He is a player who can read the game and that is what I am looking for, players who can read the game, not only individually but also for the team, because the team is more important.

"All the players can read the game individually, their own role, that is not so difficult. But to see it for the team is more difficult, not so many players can read the game for the team. That is why they need coaches."