Manchester United players will learn their fate this week as Louis van Gaal’s judgement day fast approaches.
The Dutchman has overseen a successful pre-season US tour, tracking up wins against Los Angeles Galaxy, Roma, Inter Milan and Real Madrid.
Van Gaal’s troops now have one final game against Liverpool in their final game of the tour to prove they are worthy on staying on for the Dutch revolution, before heading back to Manchester in the early hours of Tuesday where they will learn their fate.
“I shall make judgements after the tour,” the United boss said. “I have let all the players play so I know now more than I did before.
“But in football you have to judge. Always you have to give a chance to a player to make a transfer when you see that his perspective is not so high to play.”
Ashley Young may feature in the Dutchman’s plans, after scoring two in United’s 7-0 termination of LA Galaxy and another brace against Real Madrid.
Young impressed in United’s 3-1 victory against the current European champions, as did midfielder Darren Fletcher, who looks to be approaching the level he was at before health issues stopped him in his tracks three years ago.
Javier Hernandez, Shinji Kagawa and Wilfried Zaha all face uncertain futures after limited playing time in America.
Marouane Fellaini could also be shown the door, along with Anderson, neither of whom made the trip to the US.
Van Gaal now plans to tell his players individually whether they will feature in his new look United side before the transfer window closes.
“You have to say it in advance. When you say it on August 31st it’s too late. I shall say to the players what I think after the tour,” the Dutchman said.
Van Gaal has sent coach Marcel Bout back to England to work with star striker Robin van Persie, Adnan Januzaj, and Fellaini, who have been given time off following their World Cup efforts.
“They (Van Persie, Fellaini and Januzaj) have already trained. I sent Marcel Bout back to train them, along with Nicky Butt,” Van Gaal said.
Van Persie, who Van Gaal worked with at the World Cup, is working on improving his fitness and is unlikely to be fit to face Swansea on August 16.
“I have to look at Robin van Persie if he is coming back or not,” Van Gaal said.
“But if you have three weeks holiday and only four days training before the Valencia friendly (on August 12) you are not fit enough.
“For the first game in the Premier League it’s possible but I don’t think so.“
Those players who are on the fringe will be hoping to impress in the final match of their US tour against their heated rivals.
Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers said Van Gaal is facing a totally different challenge to any other he has faced in his long and illustrious career.
Van Gaal, who has won titles in Spain, Holland and Germany, says he is more than equipped to take on his new mission.
“That’s why I’m here,” he said. “Maybe he is right because I have to experience that but I was also in Spain and in my first year I won three titles, in Germany I won two titles.
“If I win one here we will all be happy.”
Van Gaal is expected to ring the changes for the final in Miami, which kicks off at 1am BST on Tuesday. The winner takes home a prize of £1million US dollars.
Main Terminator image courtesy of Orion Pictures via YouTube, and van Gaal image courtesy of FifatTV via YouTube, with thanks.
