Van Gaal: Memphis Can Handle Praise

Louis van Gaal is confident Memphis Depay has the right attitude and personality to handle the spotlight that has shone on the Dutchman since he scored twice in Manchester United’s 3-1 victory over Club Brugge on Tuesday.

The summer signing from PSV Eindhoven was voted Man of the Match after netting a couple of fine individual goals and setting up Marouane Fellaini for a third at Old Trafford, where the Reds secured a first-leg advantage in the Champions League play-off after falling behind to Michael Carrick’s own goal.

Memphis has since received widespread praise from the fans, the media, his team-mates and a number of club legends, who have all been eager to congratulate the Dutchman and predict what might be in store for his flourishing career. Thankfully, van Gaal believes he is taking it all in his stride.

“When he scores goals you have to be modest,” the boss told MUTV during his weekly interview at the Aon Training Complex. “I’ve seen that Memphis was modest in his answers to the media after his two goals and assist. I like that because there’s a long way still for him to go.

“He knows that, I know that, the club knows that and his fellow players know that. That’s the most important thing. Of course he was great in this match but you are not always great – that you have to know. You have to improve, improve, improve! It is always difficult to keep feet on the ground. For every player it is difficult to manage that attention. Up to now, he’s done that very well.”

While Memphis has been showered in praise, Wayne Rooney has been questioned by sections of the press after the captain failed to score in his third consecutive match this season. That is particularly frustrating for van Gaal, who has spotted a element of hypocrisy in the reporting.

“I have heard that,” he added. “That I have already said in press conferences, the same media has written for a whole year that I have to put Rooney in the striker’s position. Now he’s played three matches in the striker’s position and hasn’t scored, they say he’s not good enough anymore. That is the way the media is writing – I cannot change that. We have to live with that aspect of life.”