This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.theguardian.com/football/2015/jul/24/louis-van-gaal-angel-di-maria-manchester-united

The article has changed 2 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
Louis van Gaal confirms Ángel Di María will join Manchester United in San Jose Louis van Gaal confirms Ángel Di María will join Manchester United in San Jose
(35 minutes later)
Louis van Gaal expects Ángel Di María to join Manchester United’s tour in San Jose on Saturday, but the manager refused to rule out British football’s most expensive footballer moving to Paris Saint-Germain.Louis van Gaal expects Ángel Di María to join Manchester United’s tour in San Jose on Saturday, but the manager refused to rule out British football’s most expensive footballer moving to Paris Saint-Germain.
Di María and Marcos Rojo have been resting following their involvement in the Copa América, while Mexico’s Javier Hernández injured himself during the Gold Cup. The trio are due in San Jose on Saturday to be part of United’s pre-season trip, though there had been some doubt about Di María’s involvement due to PSG’s interest.Di María and Marcos Rojo have been resting following their involvement in the Copa América, while Mexico’s Javier Hernández injured himself during the Gold Cup. The trio are due in San Jose on Saturday to be part of United’s pre-season trip, though there had been some doubt about Di María’s involvement due to PSG’s interest.
However Van Gaal confirmed the Argentinean, who cost £59.7m from Real Madrid last summer, will be in San Jose, though neither he, Rojo nor Hernández will feature in Saturday’s match against Barcelona in Santa Clara. However, Van Gaal confirmed that the Argentinian, who cost £59.7m from Real Madrid last summer, will be in San Jose, though he, Rojo and Hernández will not feature in Saturday’s match against Barcelona in Santa Clara.
Asked about all three’s arrival, the Dutchman said: “I expect them tomorrow because we have communicated that and they have responded on that. He [Di María] cannot play in the game because we have to build him up. When you come out of your holidays you cannot play immediately a game, so that is out of the question.” Asked about arrival of the three, the Dutchman said: “I expect them tomorrow because we have communicated that and they have responded on that. He [Di María] cannot play in the game because we have to build him up. When you come out of your holidays you cannot play immediately a game, so that is out of the question.”
Related: Golden Goal: Eric Cantona for Manchester United v Liverpool (1996)Related: Golden Goal: Eric Cantona for Manchester United v Liverpool (1996)
Van Gaal would not be drawn on the likelihood of Di María departing: “I am not answering questions about transfers,” he said. The manager is targeting Barcelona’s Pedro and Real Madrid’s Sergio Ramos but again refused to discuss moves when asked. “I never answer the question. I cannot. I want to but it is not good for Manchester United, it is not good for players, and it is not good for me. Every word I say about players in the process is one word too much.”Van Gaal would not be drawn on the likelihood of Di María departing: “I am not answering questions about transfers,” he said. The manager is targeting Barcelona’s Pedro and Real Madrid’s Sergio Ramos but again refused to discuss moves when asked. “I never answer the question. I cannot. I want to but it is not good for Manchester United, it is not good for players, and it is not good for me. Every word I say about players in the process is one word too much.”
David de Gea will start against Barca after missing the first two tour matches due to an injury that is thought to be in his back. “I think so,” said Van Gaal, who believes the goalkeeper will not be under-cooked for the Premier League opener against Tottenham Hotspur on 8 August. “It is still possible because he shall play [against Barcelona].” David de Gea will start against Barca after missing the first two tour matches because of an injury that is thought to be in his back. “I think so,” said Van Gaal, who believes the goalkeeper will not be undercooked for the Premier League opener against Tottenham Hotspur on 8 August. “It is still possible because he shall play [against Barcelona].”
Bastian Schweinsteiger will miss the game through injury, though Van Gaal would not specify what the midfielder’s problem is. “I never talk about the injury. I say only it is a minor issue and I don’t take risks in preparation time. He shall not even play for 30 minutes.”Bastian Schweinsteiger will miss the game through injury, though Van Gaal would not specify what the midfielder’s problem is. “I never talk about the injury. I say only it is a minor issue and I don’t take risks in preparation time. He shall not even play for 30 minutes.”
Related: Football transfer rumours: Cristiano Ronaldo off to Manchester United?Related: Football transfer rumours: Cristiano Ronaldo off to Manchester United?
The manager stated that next season’s ambition is not to win the Champions League. “I have said to the players it is fantastic to play against Barcelona because then you know a little bit if you are at a certain level, to play, to win the Champions League,” said the 63-year-old. “Our aim this season is not to win the Champions League but to be close. Of course I know that this is pre-season. We know very well that winning [against Barça] is not the real truth because in the season you have to show it. Not in the pre-season. The performance is more important than the result. That is for me what counts, how we perform. I would be very happy when we win, of course.”The manager stated that next season’s ambition is not to win the Champions League. “I have said to the players it is fantastic to play against Barcelona because then you know a little bit if you are at a certain level, to play, to win the Champions League,” said the 63-year-old. “Our aim this season is not to win the Champions League but to be close. Of course I know that this is pre-season. We know very well that winning [against Barça] is not the real truth because in the season you have to show it. Not in the pre-season. The performance is more important than the result. That is for me what counts, how we perform. I would be very happy when we win, of course.”
Van Gaal also wants his team to play with a higher tempo this season. “It is always our standard to play quicker but it is also dependable of the quality of the opponent. When they park the bus, you cannot play very quickly because the space is very narrow and it is very difficult to play very quickly,” he said. “I have explained that also in that kind of games but we have played also fantastic games where we have played very quickly with very good positional play and that delivers a lot of goals.”Van Gaal also wants his team to play with a higher tempo this season. “It is always our standard to play quicker but it is also dependable of the quality of the opponent. When they park the bus, you cannot play very quickly because the space is very narrow and it is very difficult to play very quickly,” he said. “I have explained that also in that kind of games but we have played also fantastic games where we have played very quickly with very good positional play and that delivers a lot of goals.”
The signing of Memphis Depay should help, but Van Gaal added he expects the same intensity from the rest of his squad: “It is not only Depay, all the players have to play like that. Because when you don’t have all the players who are able to do that, you cannot do that because you are a team.”The signing of Memphis Depay should help, but Van Gaal added he expects the same intensity from the rest of his squad: “It is not only Depay, all the players have to play like that. Because when you don’t have all the players who are able to do that, you cannot do that because you are a team.”