Louis van Gaal has urged summer signing Memphis Depay to improve if he is to return to contention for a starting berth at Manchester United.
The forward moved to Old Trafford from PSV Eindhoven for £25 million during the summer [Telegraph], and initially showed signs that he might represent a smart bit of business for van Gaal.
Particularly notable was a star turn in the Champions League play-off first leg against Club Brugge, in which the Dutch attacker bagged two goals and proved to be a devastating presence in attacking errors.
However, his star fell dramatically over subsequent weeks and months, and Memphis hasn’t started a game since October 3. During this period, he has also suffered the heartache of missing out on Euro 2016 as part of an underperforming Dutch side.
While the Mirror have tipped Memphis for a return to the United side in light of the club’s injury crisis—Wayne Rooney, Anthony Martial, James Wilson and Marouane Fellaini are all doubtful, lacking match fitness or injured for the Red Devils’ weekend match with Watford—LVG has urged his supper signing to up his game.
Van Gaal had the following to say when asked whether he’d expected more from Depay, as per the Mirror: “Of course, otherwise he would still be in the team,” the coach began. “Otherwise I wouldn’t look for another solution, and I have looked for another solution in my team.
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“I have kept Jesse Lingard and Andreas Pereira, for example, for that option, so now he has to fight back and he does it, so I’m satisfied.
“He is always looking very good in training. There’s always a chance [he can play]. But I have to see and compare players.”