No room for sentiment as Man Utd's Memphis Depay promises to celebrate against PSV

Memphis Depay scored 22 league goals for PSV last season before moving to Manchester United

MEMPHIS DEPAY returns to his spiritual home here tonight vowing to show no sentiment.

 

The Manchester United winger warned former club PSV Eindhoven he is determined to score in the Philips Stadion – and will have no qualms about celebrating if he does.

He was with PSV for a decade working his way through their youth ranks before becoming the star turn of their Eredivisie-winning team last season with 28 goals in all competitions.

 

That should earn him a warm reception from a sell-out 35,000 crowd but the 21-year-old winger insists he cannot allow himself to be fazed by what he admits will be a special occasion.

“Of course, I played for PSV for 10 years before I came to Manchester United,” he said. “So it will a special feeling for me to see my old team mates again and I am looking forward to it.

“When I step on to the pitch I will think about when I first played for PSV but the match is a different thing. A lot of people have asked me if I will celebrate if I score but it’s a game we want to win, I play for United now, so of course I will celebrate and of course I will respect PSV.

“It will be interesting to see what we can do but I think we can do a good job here.”

While Depay sparkled in the two qualifying games with Club Bruges to help United through to the group stages, he has struggled to make a real impact in the Premier League so far.

 

He has yet to score in five games and was surprisingly substituted by Louis van Gaal at half-time against Liverpool on Saturday with his replacement, Ashley Young, helping to spark United’s second-half improvement.

Depay admits he still has much to learn.

“I think my reaction [to being taken off] was good and I will keep my head up, work on improving my game in training. I think I can do better in games. It’s a new experience for me playing in the Premier League, so I have to improve and I know that.”

Psv boss Phillip Cocu believes if Depay is given time he will live up to the 'Dutch wonderboy' tag

PSV boss Phillip Cocu, who gave Depay his debut two years ago, insists that given time he will live up to his ‘Dutch wonderboy’ tag that accompanied his summer move to Old Trafford and set the English game alight.

Cocu says Depay is always trying different skills to open up massed defences and should be encouraged rather than criticised when they do not always come off. He says he also gives hs team-mates more time and space because he is often marked by two opponents.

 

“I think every player will need some time to get used a league like the Premier League,” said Cocu. “I am not surprised he has had ups and downs but he is also a player who puts a lot of risk in his actions. If he is not successful with those actions, criticism will follow, but he can also be decisive in moments.

“Sometimes it is difficult in the beginning but in a few months he will get better and better. He will bring goals and he always plays towards the goal. He also has good vision for other players.

“He will always be a player who will have two players on him but the rest of the team will have benefits from that.

“He needs time to grow, like any new player, but he is very strong. He is also a quick learner, he will get time and pick it up very fast.”

Despite Anthony Martial’s solo goal as a substitute on Saturday, Van Gaal is set to use the French teenager from the bench again tonight with Marouane Fellaini spearheading the attack again in the absence of Wayne Rooney, who was left at home to nurse a hamstring strain.