Angel Di Maria

No concerns over Angel Di Maria

Louis van Gaal says Angel Di Maria has responded well to a disappointing performance against Sunderland on Saturday, with the Manchester United manager insisting he has every faith in the Argentinian to keep improving.

The winger was replaced at half-time against the Black Cats after a frustrating first period at Old Trafford. Van Gaal said in his post-match interview that he needed to give Di Maria more time to adapt to the English game and added that it was “not easy to change a player of his quality, but I have to make these decisions."

The Reds' boss told MUTV that it is normal for players to have an off day now and again and insists Di Maria is working hard to perform at his very best. “Every player can have that kind of match – Di Maria is not the only player who has suffered a bad day," he said. "He can be the best player in the world in the next match so I think everything is going well. He has trained very well and I don’t think there is any problem.

“I have already explained that the higher rhythm of the Premier League is one of the most important aspects,” added the manager when asked about the difficulties in adapting to life in England. “But he also has to adapt to a new culture, new environment and that is not always easy."

Asked about Di Maria in his pre-match press conference, van Gaal noted that it's not only the 27-year-old settling into a new environment - every player experiences in their first season as a Red.


"It counts for all the players we have bought, the first season is always difficult," he said. "I explained that after the match. You can see it with every player we bought: Shaw, Blind, Herrera, Falcao and also Di Maria. For me it is not a big surprise; it is more a big surprise [if] he [had] adapted quickly. In the Netherlands, Spain and Germany I had the same experience with players. We have to give him time as I've already said, not just for him but all the other players. We shall wait and see.”

www.manutd.com/en/News-And-Features/Football-News/2015/Mar/louis-van-gaal-says-angel-di-maria-is-working-hard-to-adapt-to-english-football.aspx

It's a tricky situation for managers; to know how to deal with an out of form player, to bring them back to their former selves differs from player to player.

After the showing during the past 2 games, I'd be happy to bench Angel for the arsenal game, however, I wonder if that would completely smash his confidence (lack there-of) and would it be better to keep playing him and let ADM ride it out.

I think Adnan has done enough to warrant a start over Di Maria for the FA cup tie, but he also has a tendency to drift in and out of games, on his day though, he's a real danger.

Di Maria hopes to live up to rich tradition of Manchester United No. 7s

Manchester United winger Angel Di Maria has insisted he is enjoying life at Old Trafford and stated he is determined to succeed at the club following his record-breaking £59.7 million move from Real Madrid last summer.

Di Maria has been widely criticised by United supporters and the media for his uninspiring performances in recent months, with his red card in last Monday's FA Cup quarterfinal defeat against Arsenal a new low point of his time in English football.

After United boss Louis van Gaal has suggested Di Maria needed time to adapt to the demands of English football, the Argentine international has told the United Review that he is eager to find his feet and prove his worth at Old Trafford.

"I feel really good here and I'm genuinely happy to be wearing the No. 7 shirt," he stated of a jersey that has been previously worn by the likes of George Best, Bryan Robson, David Beckham and Cristiano Ronaldo.

"I know that some really great players have worn it in the past for Manchester United. Top, top players. I was really excited to wear that number, as it's the one I wear for Argentina and things have always gone really well for me. That's one reason I chose the number and also because so many great players have worn it before me.

"I hope that I can perform well and that the No. 7 shirt can keep its privileged place, high in the history of Manchester United."

Di Maria, who will sit out Sunday's vital Premier League game against Tottenham at Old Trafford as he serves a suspension following his dismissal against Arsenal, went on to suggest United's push for a top four finish is about to enter a crucial phase.

"We are all aware that a number of big games are just around the corner for ourselves and the season will be decided by these fixtures," he continued.

"We know all about these upcoming games and we have been thinking and talking about them for quite some time now.

"Since the time that the fixtures for the second half of the season came out, we've known that everything would be at stake over this final period.

"Everyone at the club is 100 percent confident, we know that we want to get back into the Champions League and that we want to be fighting it out.

"We will battle hard right to the end of the season. From what I know of the club, United always fight right to the end, and that's what we're going to do.

"I think that having so many new faces arriving and then playing in the first-team, it's never easy for them to settle in immediately alongside the established players who have been here a while.

"It takes time for a team to really hit the heights. We've picked up some big results along the way, we're near the top of the league and we shouldn't be too downbeat because we've achieved quite a lot so far."

www.espnfc.com/manchester-united/story/2346383/angel-di-maria-hopes-to-live-up-to-rich-tradition-of-manchester-united-no-7s

^ Because ADM has had far more minutes during the past few months than Falcao. I think this suspension may do Di Maria a bit of good, time to rest, regroup and move on.

Here's the comparison between our two supposed flops vs two of the best apparently and according to many:



Minutes played involved.

One helluva thingy!