Louis van Gaal skeptically comments on Manchester United’s Champions League hopes

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Despite spending approximately £300m on new players since arriving two summers ago, Louis van Gaal, the Manchester United manager, is not confident that his side are prepared for the Champions League – insisting that they must prove themselves.

Having used such a significant amount of the Red Devils’ cash in building his ‘philosophy’ at Old Trafford, supporters would be right not to expect their team to take too much time to adjust to the intensity in the elite European competition – particularly with the likes of Bastian Schweinsteiger and Wayne Rooney to rally their team-mates.

However, van Gaal is not convinced.

The former Netherlands manager insists that his senior squad are unproven in the Champions League, and therefore have to demonstrate that they are worthy of competing at this standard.

The Dutchman said: “We have to show on the pitch if we are able to win matches at the highest level,” as quoted by the Daily Mail.

“That’s the challenge for us now. We have to show if we are able to play at this level. I don’t know (the answer).

“We have to wait and see because the Champions League is a higher level than the Premier League.”

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United take on PSV Eindhoven in their opening game of this season’s Champions League on Tuesday night at 7.45pm.

Wayne Rooney was sidelined with a hamstring injury at the weekend and has been left out of the squad to face PSV. Young striker James Wilson has taken his place. Meanwhile, Memphis Depay is expected to feature against his former club.

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