This weekend was the weekend for those players discarded by Manchester United to prove to Louis van Gaal exactly what he’s missing.
First, there was Chicharito, who hit the first hat-trick of his professional career as Bayer Leverkusen downed Borussia Monchengladcbach.
Then, Nani bagged a late winner—a superb right-footed effort after cutting in from the left flank—as Fenerbahce secured a victory in the Turkish Super Lig.
Finally, on Sunday evening, in was Angel Di Maria, whose superb free kick was met by Ivorian right-back Serge Aurier to give Paris Saint-Germain a 2-0 lead over Olympique Lyonnais.
Laurent Blanc’s side would go on to win that game 5-1, taking them 22 points clear of their vanquished opponents and 17 clear of second and third-placed Angers and AS Monaco.
It was a further reminder of what Di Maria—who has managed nine assists and four goals in 13 league outings so far this season—is capable of.
Telling, then, that on the same weekend that Chicharito, Nani and Di Maria were tearing it up across Europe, United were being humbled by Bournemouth.
Did van Gaal get this one horribly wrong?
All we need now is for Danny Welbeck to get fit and Radamel Falcao to…ah well…let’s just settle for Welbeck to get fit.
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