(Manchester United News)
"Di Maria is not the only player who has suffered a bad day. He can be the best player in the world in the next match. He has trained very well and I don’t think there is any problem."
- Van Gaal on Di Maria
03/03/2015 13:26, Report by Gemma Thompson
Louis van Gaal says Angel Di Maria has responded well to a disappointing performance against Sunderland on Saturday, with the Manchester United manager insisting he has every faith in the Argentinian to keep improving.
The winger was replaced at half-time against the Black Cats after a frustrating first period at Old Trafford. Van Gaal said in his post-match interview that he needed to give Di Maria more time to adapt to the English game and added that it was “not easy to change a player of his quality, but I have to make these decisions."
The Reds' boss told MUTV that it is normal for players to have an off day now and again and insists Di Maria is working hard to perform at his very best. “Every player can have that kind of match – Di Maria is not the only player who has suffered a bad day," he said. "He can be the best player in the world in the next match so I think everything is going well. He has trained very well and I don’t think there is any problem.
“I have already explained that the higher rhythm of the Premier League is one of the most important aspects,” added the manager when asked about the difficulties in adapting to life in England. “But he also has to adapt to a new culture, new environment and that is not always easy."
Asked about Di Maria in his pre-match press conference, van Gaal noted that it's not only the 27-year-old settling into a new environment - every player experiences in their first season as a Red.
"It counts for all the players we have bought, the first season is always difficult," he said. "I explained that after the match. You can see it with every player we bought: Shaw, Blind, Herrera, Falcao and also Di Maria. For me it is not a big surprise; it is more a big surprise [if] he [had] adapted quickly. In the Netherlands, Spain and Germany I had the same experience with players. We have to give him time as I've already said, not just for him but all the other players. We shall wait and see.”
