My way or the highway manager Louis van Gaal has warned his players that none of them has a guaranteed place in his starting XI each week, including the clubs big money stars.
The Dutchman has already shown how ruthless he can be dispatching fellow countryman Robin van Persie to Turkey, while telling the world that goalkeeper Victor Valdes is for sale due to the Spaniard’s poor attitude.
Van Gaal delivered his hard line approach as to how things would be during the official introduction of Bastian Schweinsteiger, Morgan Schneiderlin and Matteo Darmian ahead of their first pre-season tour match against Club America tomorrow night in Seattle.
“I had already said that our selection [squad] was unbalanced and I had also mentioned that I wanted to make that balance with midfielders, so you could expect that I shall buy two holding midfielders,” said Van Gaal.
“Schneiderlin is the type that I think can play in our system and in our philosophy and Manchester United only buy players who can make a contribution to that. We’re not buying for [the sake of] buying.
“Every player who is here can make that contribution. But they know already – and I have said this to the players – that you have to fight for your position.
“Never is it secure in top sport – even my position is not secure, as you know. But also the players, the players have to fight.
“Schneiderlin has to fight with Schweinsteiger, Michael Carrick and Daley Blind. These are the players who can play in the centre of midfield.
“Darmian has to fight with Antonio Valencia for the right-back role. He knows that, but Valencia knows that also. Carrick knows it also, because at the end of the season I have told him.
“But the difficulty is to get these players, because it’s not so easy. I’m very proud, especially that [executive vice-chairman] Ed Woodward has done that.
“It’s not so easy when Manchester United are coming, because clubs are always asking for more money than you think you should spend. But the new players are here at the right time.”
When asked why Rafael was not included in the tour van Gaal said: “I want always a player who can defend in the first place, because when you are the right full-back you have to defend and cooperate with your fellow defenders.” Which suggested Rafael was not defensively competent enough.
“What I have seen in him [Darmian] is that he has a very good orientation, and with that he can co-operate with our central defenders, because he has to close the space when the ball is on the other side and so he needs always to have a good orientation.
“That is one. He is also fast, he is also a reasonable header of the ball, so that is also a plus. He can build up play and he can see a free man, and he is, in an attacking way, a good player.
“Manchester United always wants to attack with the full-backs. It’s always the theory.”
When talking about Scheniderlin, the Dutchman said: “Morgan is a player from the Premier League, so he can cope with the Premier League.
“That is the question with Schweinsteiger and Darmian, because they have to prove it, and that is the difference. There’s a big difference between all of the leagues. I have managed in them all, so I can say that, but I’m fully confident that Bastian and Matteo can cope with the rhythm of the Premier League.”
Van Gaal remembered Schweinsteiger from his time with Bayern and is confident the German can cope.
“I don’t have any doubts, because maybe you remember that I’m not only looking to the qualities of a player, but how he is as a human being,” said Van Gaal. “I think that is also important.
“That is the total human being principle I have talked about before. I do believe Bastian will give his utmost best to perform in the same way he has done for Bayern Munich. Do I have doubts? No, I have a lot of confidence.”
