Manchester United boss Louis van Gaal is confident his decision to let Danny Welbeck leave Old Trafford and replace him with Radamel Falcao will prove correct.
Welbeck, who was sold to Arsenal on transfer deadline day in September, will be out to make a point to the Dutchman on Saturday when United visit the Emirates Stadium.
He has scored five goals since his arrival in London, two more than Wayne Rooney and Robin van Persie, while his replacement Falcao has spent more time injured than on the pitch.
The Colombia striker will miss Saturday’s match with what he described as a ‘frustrating’ fresh injury but van Gaal still expects him to be a success in the Premier League even if he is yet to decide whether to turn his loan move from Monaco into a permanent deal.
“Here, Danny Welbeck did not play every match. He was not a line-up player; he was more substitute than line-up,” Van Gaal said.
“With different coaches not a line-up player, then came Mr van Gaal and the world is changing? No, the world is not changing – the facts are not my facts, they’re the facts of Danny Welbeck.
“We have Van Persie and (James) Wilson, and when you keep Welbeck, you don’t give any chances to youngsters. That’s also our philosophy, to give opportunities to youngsters.
“And then also we could buy Falcao. So (if) that is not enough reason, then I don’t know – I’m not a very good manager.
“For him it was a very good decision because as a line-up player he develops himself much more. If it was right for Manchester United is dependable on how they play, how they score and in what position we shall finish in the league.”
Turning his attention to Falcao, van Gaal admitted he will not bring him back into the first-team until he is fully fit.
“I don’t give any chance to players when they are not fit, believe me,” Van Gaal said. “Look at my record and you will see that.
“You have to be fit. And what’s your name? It doesn’t matter – you have to be fit. I’m sorry. I have to manage with the other players and we believe in these players. And we shall show it.
“Do you think we expected he’d be injured for so many weeks? Because of that (injury setback) maybe we didn’t buy him.”
SKYSPORTS
About the Author
