(Manchester United News)
Louis van Gaal has praised Radamel Falcao’s professionalism and work ethic after the Manchester United striker completed a cameo appearance for the club’s Under-21s on Tuesday.
The Colombian was an unused substitute in the senior team’s FA Cup defeat to Arsenal and was therefore handed 72 minutes of game-time the following night, when Warren Joyce’s men recorded a 1-1 draw with Tottenham. Victor Valdes also featured, while Rafael stepped up his recovery from injury by scoring a fine individual goal.
During his weekly MUTV interview, van Gaal was asked if Falcao and Rafael are in his mind for Sunday’s Barclays Premier League match with Mauricio Pochettino’s Spurs.
“I have 25 players and all of the players can play the next game,” van Gaal explained. “I have to maintain the rhythm of the game with every player. I have read about the ‘big humiliation’ for Falcao, but also Valdes was playing and Rafael as well. Michael Carrick has also played for the second team this season.
“That shows the professional attitude of the player but also the management of the club. It is not a humiliation, it is a professional attitude. In a training session, you never reach the intensity of 90 minutes. Of course, the second team level is lower but that is also good that a player from the first team is playing much more minutes at a lower level, because then he can build up his confidence.”
When asked about Rafael’s glorious equaliser for the Under-21s, van Gaal gave a glowing review and claimed the Brazilian has already benefited. “Of course I was impressed, and you could see in the training sessions afterwards that he had built up his confidence again and that is good for the players as well.”
