Louis van Gaal is in an unforgiving mood following Manchester United’s loss to West Bromwich Albion on Saturday evening, and has punished Robin van Persie for his crucial penalty miss by stripping the Dutchman of his spot kick duties.
The Baggies scored the opening goal in the 63rd minute, and van Persie had the chance to equalise, but saw his well-struck penalty saved by Boaz Myhill.
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Louis van Gaal has been left with a sour taste in his mouth following the miss, and when asked if the striker was to remain the club’s first-choice penalty take, he unequivocally replied:
“No. He is now at the end of the road,” the 63-year-old revealed to BBC Sport.
“It is always the same,” he added. “Wayne Rooney has missed also, so when you miss, you are at the bottom again.”
The Netherlands international has endured a disrupted season due to ongoing injury problems, but was handed his first start since mid-February at Old Trafford, partnering Wayne Rooney, who was also a doubt for the game, up front.
It seemed that the Red Devils were finally beginning to show signs that the Premier League giants were back following a six game unbeaten run, in which they beat Tottenham Hotspur, Liverpool and Manchester City.
However, since the stunning 4-2 win over neighbours City on April 12, United have suffered three successive defeats to Chelsea, Everton and West Brom without scoring a single goal, drifting to fourth place, and a Champions League spot is far from guaranteed with Liverpool just four points behind in fifth.