Apparently team balance is paramount at Old Trafford…
Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal has insinuated that he may drop captain Wayne Rooney for younger players in the future, reports Goal.com.
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The England skipper has been amongst the regular starters when available so far this season, making seventeen appearances so far. However, this is apparently not proof that he will continue in this key role in the side throughout the campaign. The news is especially surprising as the 29-year-old was only made team captain this summer.
The Dutch coach has made it clear that he is not above sacrificing some of his best players in order to make sure that the team has the right balance when on the pitch.
“I need balance in the team. I’m looking for the balance,” Van Gaal told reporters when asked about Rooney. “I hope to perform better because then the game shall be more attractive. I don’t know if I shall use him always because it’s also dependable of the form of the strikers.
“He’s also a very good striker so I can use him on different positions and I like that because I like multi-functional players. I normally buy more multi-functional players than specialists.”
The 63-year-old also said that he wants to bring more youth in to the team, possibly hinting at who could replace the striker should he be dropped.
“I have had the time to know all my players,” he added. “That’s another exciting time because that’s why I became a manager.
“I want to work with young people. It keeps you young and you can make a team out of it. Now we are still building up and in the process,” he concluded.
The Red Devils next play against Southampton. This will be a big match in the race for the top four, with both teams currently among the pack chasing Champions League qualification. The Saints could overtake the Old Trafford outfit if they beat them.