Ex-United: Blame Van Gaal for wasting £280,000-a-week star

Angel Di Maria
Angel Di Maria

Angel Di Maria

Former Manchester United player Danny Higginbotham says that Louis van Gaal is responsible for wasting Angel di Maria’s talents.

In his column for Independent he finds talks like Angel di Maria struggling to adapt and not happy yet are nonsense.

He feels Di Maria, who reportedly earns £280,000-a-week, is one of Europe’s top three players but he is being wasted on the field. He writes:

“All the problems stem from the way that Louis van Gaal has Manchester United set up.

“One of the oldest adages that a manager will have for a team is ‘make the space on a pitch big when you are in possession and small when you are out of it.’

Higginbotham feels that United manager is cramping the midfield that is not allowing space for Di Maria to play and create. 

“Why is this? Because Van Gaal is showing no inclination to stretch the pitch, either vertically or laterally.

He went on to analyse it tactically where United are getting it all wrong, claiming when United are in possession it looks like they are on a five-a-side pitch. 

He is, however, happy with the progress made by England winger Ashley Young, saying the former Villa player has been one of United’s players of the season.  

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