Van Gaal: De Gea Could Face Barcelona

Louis van Gaal has revealed he is optimistic David De Gea will play in Manchester United’s next International Champions Cup match against Barcelona on Saturday.

The Spain international is yet to feature on Tour 2015 presented by Aon after an injury ruled him out of the 1-0 win over Club America and Tuesday’s 3-1 victory over San Jose Earthquakes.

Although De Gea was not in the matchday squad at the quirky Avaya Stadium in California, he did take part in the warm-up as the players simply needed a goalkeeper to shoot at while Sam Johnstone prepared on his own with Frans Hoek, with Anders Lindegaard also injured.

“I have a good hope that he can play against Barcelona but he was still injured [for the San Jose game],” van Gaal stated in his post-match press conference. "Lindegaard was also injured so it was difficult. I told David to go stand in the goal so we have a point of direction for my attackers, but don’t do anything to risk more injury because we have to build you up. I hope that he can play and I think he can.”

Angel Di Maria, Marcos Rojo and Javier Hernandez will all join the tour squad on Saturday after enjoying an extended holiday following their international commitments. Van Gaal does not expect any of the trio to face Barcelona, though, due to a lack of match fitness.

“They all come on 25 July but they cannot play. It is the same with Bastian [Schweinsteiger],” the boss explained. “You have to first train more and then we have to play 45 minutes.

“They can play maybe 30 minutes but I don’t think so because they had three weeks of holidays and I don’t know how they will come back. But it is possible because in three weeks you do not lose so much. Some players had five weeks’ holiday and then that is not possible [to play].”

The boss also confirmed his starting team against the Spanish champions will play for an hour now that the majority of his players have all registered 45 minutes in both of the last two games.

“Now, I have had the opportunity to see all of my players except for Marouane Fellaini, because he is suspended for three matches,” van Gaal told reporters.

“Also except for Sean Goss because he is the surprise selection in the squad and a player from the second team. I gave him the opportunity but I have nobody injured yet. It is going very well.

"Against Barcelona, I will play for longer with a line-up. I have to select which players are going to play 60 minutes so it is the first selection.”