Louis van Gaal Defends Relationship With Manchester United Players

Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal has defended his relationship with his players and insists it is a good thing that two of them recently raised concerns.

Newspaper reports this week claimed there is unrest in the United dressing room and that van Gaal's performance analyst Max Reckers is a primary source of the friction.

Van Gaal admitted both captain Wayne Rooney and Michael Carrick pulled him aside for urgent talks but he insists the details of these reports are not entirely true.

Speaking ahead of United's Saturday Night Football clash with Liverpool, live on Sky Sports 1, Van Gaal said: "Rooney and Carrick came to me and said the dressing room is flat.

"They told me because they wanted to help me. I communicate not only with my captains, but they tried to warn me.

"I then went to my dressing room and discussed this with my players, and we discussed a lot of aspects, but not what some have written.

"Maybe you have to consider how many players are coming to the manager to say something. In my career, I didn't have so many who come to say something about the atmosphere in the dressing room or the way we train.

"But it is very positive that they are coming to you and that they trust you. I think I have a superb relationship with my players."

Several United players are reportedly fed up with the amount of team meetings and video analysis they have to endure, while the same newspaper reports also claim there is concern over the treatment of Victor Valdes and Rafael da Silva as they exited Old Trafford this summer.

But van Gaal also revealed: "Some players are coming to me to apologise about what has been said in the papers.

"I have read things that we haven't talked about. It is the same story as last year but the consequence of the philosophy is that we have to release players.

"The whole dressing room has been changed. Can you imagine when your friend must leave? What are your feelings then?

"But the fans are shouting every week 'Louis van Gaal's army.' They are very satisfied and the players are satisfied.

"I say always what I feel and how it is, and I can say only that I have a very good relationship with my players, but it is logical now that only nine are left from the initial group.

"The others I have bought will not say I am a lousy manager."

Credit: Skysports.com