Following yet another below par performance by record British transfer signing Angel Di Maria, Manchester United boss Louis van Gaal has asked the fans to be more patient with the Argentinian winger as he settles into life in the Premiership.
Van Gaal pulled the 27-year-old at the break after he had failed to contribute to United’s eventual 2-0 win over Sunderland ay Old Trafford on Saturday replacing him with Belgium international Adnan Januzaj.
The Dutch manager confirmed that Di Maria was taken off due to the way he was playing rather than because of an injury, but insisted that given time he will prove what an exciting player he is.
“I want to win as a manager and I have to observe and analyse and I have to take the steps that are necessary to win,” Van Gaal said.
“I always thought in theory that I could change Angel for Adnan Januzaj and then we were in the second half better, so I cannot say it was the wrong decision.
“We have to give Angel more time to adapt to the Premier League; it’s not so easy with the high tempo, it’s much higher here than in other countries.
“We have to give him time to adapt, and time to get his confidence again, which is also important.
“But he is a top player, a top athlete, and he will overcome this period.”
