Manchester United Do not Have A Good Scouting Team – LVG

Manchester United striker, Wayne Rooney was “over the hill” 5 years ago even if i made him captain, according to Louis van Gaal.

The ex Holland manager handed the armband to Wayne when he became manager at Old Trafford.

Rooney netted 29 goals for two seasons and eventually became Manchester United’ all-time leading scorer.

LVG said, “I’m sorry but he was over the hill. But in spite of that he was one of my best players.”

“You can say nothing about his professionalism as a player in the training sessions or on a pitch.

“Outside the environment of the training pitch and the stadium is different. I made him my captain because I want to control that life outside.”

On the current Man United squad, “This is significant that I have to think a lot.

“[Luke] Shaw was starting very well but he was kicked out [badly injured] by PSV. Shaw was above average. [Ander] Herrera was above average. He started not so well but he became more important for the team because of his inspiring behaviour and coaching qualities.

“I think that overall Daley Blind was my most consistent player with high qualities for building up the play. [Juan] Mata was also a quality player with a lot of creativity and I was very happy with him because we had a big lack of creative players.

“That’s why we played that, in your eyes, ‘boring football’. We did not have too many creative players to increase the tempo of the ball and to use more vertical passes. But it was better than parking the bus, I think.

“We played there [points to the opposition half]. We were mostly always better than our opponents, but, when your opponent is parking the bus, you need creative players.

“That’s why I allowed [Angel] di Maria and [Memphis] Depay to come because they were creative players and I think a team needs at least three or four creative players to break down those opponents.”

“In scouting players, Manchester United don’t have the organisation to deliver the best players in my opinion.

“Then with the education of players, you cannot say that the education of Manchester United is very good. How many players are coming through?

“With Manchester United, you have a fantastic performance department and that is under the guidance of the doctor. But this performance department needs also the guidance of an experienced technical director.

“You have to use that department not only for the first team but also intensively for the youth education.

“Then young players are more educated in the philosophy of Man United and the big step to the first team is much easier. These are the important aspects that you have to develop as a technical director.”