United's kids are running scared

One influential director at Old Trafford admitted that the team had become 'too cautious' under Van Gaal. Photo: Jason Cairnduff

One influential director at Old Trafford admitted that the team had become 'too cautious' under Van Gaal. Photo: Jason Cairnduff

Published Nov 27, 2015

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London - Inside the home dressing room before Wednesday’s Champions League clash with PSV Eindhoven, some of Manchester United’s senior professionals picked up on the tension among the younger players.

Memphis Depay, who had scored at Watford the previous Saturday, the forward Anthony Martial and Matteo Darmian appeared to be nervous and full of anxiety.

Out on the pitch at Old Trafford, in front of a crowd who were conditioned to watch some of the most vibrant, attacking football in the game under Sir Alex Ferguson, there is no place to hide.

Louis van Gaal’s players are afraid to make mistakes, too concerned by what their volatile head coach will say at half-time, full time or during the lengthy tactical analysis led by his assistant Max Reckers back at the training ground.

Those endless sessions, when the players’ errors, however trivial, are highlighted and corrected in front of the whole squad, have had a telling effect on their tactical approach to matches.

After the 0-0 draw with PSV, a result that means United must win against Wolfsburg on December 8 to guarantee their place in the knockout stages, one influential director at Old Trafford admitted that the team had become ‘too cautious’ under Van Gaal.

The sense of adventure, once a hallmark of the great thrill-seeking teams built by Ferguson, has been beaten out of them by their Dutch coach. Where United were once relentless, sending players forward in a last, desperate gamble for a goal, they are now patient, methodical and mind-numbing to watch.

When Ferguson ruled the roost, their gung-ho approach was the reason United won so many matches in the final few minutes, giving credence to the term ‘Fergie time’ whenever they snatched one of their famous late winners.

Their former manager is known to have some misgivings about the style of play under Van Gaal.

The Dutch coach relies heavily on physical overload, with double sessions a regular feature under Van Gaal and a dread of Thursdays, which is usually the hardest running day for the players.

When the players returned from international duty last week, United had an early evening training session to begin preparations for the Premier League clash at Watford on Saturday.

It worked, with Bastian Schweinsteiger, who has yet to reach the dizzy heights he once achieved in a Bayern Munich and Germany shirt, forcing an own goal from Troy Deeney in injury time to secure a 2-1 victory for United.

Before the clash with PSV Eindhoven, Van Gaal trained with two different teams as part of their preparations because he wasn’t sure whether Wayne Rooney would recover from a throat infection in time.

Juan Mata and Ashley Young, two of the most consistent and experienced players, missed out because of Van Gaal’s sudden infatuation with Jesse Lingard. By the time United’s clash with Phillip Cocu’s team was over, Rooney was playing in a bizarre position alongside Morgan Schneiderlin a yard or so in front of the back four.

It is incredible to think that this team are second in the Premier League and they will be top if they beat Leicester City at the King Power Stadium tomorrow evening.

There is no let-up for this squad and the chances of a rare day off for the players after they meet Leicester evaporated when they were reminded yesterday that they are to attend a black-tie event on Sunday night.

Each year United’s entire first-team squad, along with Van Gaal and the coaching staff, attend the annual gala dinner in aid of the children’s charity Unicef.

Traditionally it is a late finish, with VIP guests paying thousands of pounds for the privilege of sitting in the same room as the United players. The squad willingly pose for pictures, enjoying the evening with hundreds of United supporters before they return to training at Carrington the following day.

When they get there, the serious business will start all over again.

Daily Mail

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