Lvg Looking For Falcao Boost

13 March 2015 18:36

Louis van Gaal has revealed Radamel Falcao turned out for Manchester United's Under-21 side because he felt the out-of-form striker needed a confidence boost.

The United boss conceded the move did not exactly go to plan though, admitting he was not too impressed by the striker's performance for the youth side.

Twenty-four hours after failing to get off the bench for United's FA Cup quarter-final against Arsenal on Monday, Falcao drew his latest blank in a 72-minute appearance for the Under-21 side against Tottenham.

Van Gaal insisted he was not punishing Falcao for his poor form with the seniors - the Colombian has scored just four goals since his eye-catching deadline-day loan move from Monaco.

The Dutchman insists the idea was to help the striker rebuild his shattered confidence.

''That is one of the aspects that I let my players play in the second squad,'' Van Gaal said.

''It is not a humiliation.

''Every player needs match rhythm. We pay a lot for the players, so I think it's normal that they play football also for us and that can be also in the second team.

"Not only has Falcao played but also (Victor) Valdes has played and Rafa(el) Da Silva has played. Rafa Da Silva played a very good match and scored a wonderful goal and because of that he can grip again his confidence.

"That can pick up all the players playing in the second squad because that is a lower level and they can play more than 70 minutes for example, that is not normal in every training session."

Falcao failed to find the net in the match, which ended in a 1-1 draw.

And Van Gaal did not appear overly impressed with the striker's performance.

He said: ''Falcao did not play his best match in the second team but he has tried his utmost best. I cannot ask more from players.''

The fact that a player twice nominated for the Ballon d'Or turned out for a game against a bunch of youngsters in a near-empty Old Trafford shows how far Falcao's stock has plummeted since he moved to England.

More than seven months after signing the player, Van Gaal is still unable to fathom why Falcao has been unable to replicate the stellar form he showed for Colombia, Porto and Atletico Madrid.

''You never can know that,'' Van Gaal said when asked why things had not worked out for the 29-year-old, who United have an option to buy for £43.2million at the end of the season.

''We are looking for the solution for him but you can never know that.

''You can give fantastic performances in another country but not in the country that you are present for.

''That is not the first example and it will not be the last example.

"A lot of players need more time to adapt to the new situation, new culture, higher rhythm of the English game and to a lot of aspects.''

Falcao has started the last two games on the bench and Van Gaal does not appear to be in any kind of rush to recall the striker.

''In a club like Manchester United it is more difficult than in a minor club because here he has his competitors,'' Van Gaal added.

''Now Wayne (Rooney) is playing there and Wayne is scoring so you always have to compare players with each other but you need also luck."

Van Gaal won a trophy in his first season at Ajax, Bayern Munich and Barcelona, but the chances of him doing so at United are remote.

The 2-1 defeat to Arsenal knocked United out of the FA Cup on Monday and in the league, Van Gaal's men are 10 points behind leaders Chelsea, who have a match in hand.

Van Gaal is sure his team's confidence has not been affected by the cup exit to the Gunners.

''I have the same confidence as before,'' said Van Gaal, who has fixtures against Chelsea, Manchester City and Liverpool after Sunday's home game against Tottenham.

Angel di Maria's dismissal against Arsenal means he is suspended this weekend and so is Jonny Evans, who is two matches into a six-game ban for spitting at Newcastle's Papiss Cisse.

Robin van Persie is still out with an ankle injury and defender Marcos Rojo is a doubt with a groin problem.

''(Rojo) has a minor problem. Maybe I take him out of the game against Tottenham but I have to decide,'' Van Gaal said.

Source: PA-WIRE