Louis van Gaal warns Manchester United star to shape up or ship out

Van Gaal has urged his fellow Dutchman Memphis Depay to fit into the club or risk being sold on

MANCHESTER UNITED boss Louis van Gaal has warned Memphis Depay that unless the Dutch winger justifies the club’s faith in him he will follow Angel Di Maria and Radamel Falcao through the Old Trafford exit door.

 

The 21-year-old who joined United in the summer from PSV Eindhoven for a fee which could rise above £30 million has been inconsistent so far in his first season in English football and there have been reports of an attitude problem surrounding the player.

Van Gaal did little to defuse those stories but quickly reminded the Dutch international’s detractors that the player was still maturing and had time on his side.

But the United manager insisted Depay will have to grow up the Manchester United way – or move on elsewhere.

He revealed: “I know that Ryan Giggs for example has given him advice. But the player is responsible for his own deeds. And also for that, you have to give respect to the player. That is what Ryan is giving, but also what I shall always give.

“You have to give that respect to the identity in your team philosophy. But some players cannot adapt to the team philosophy. That you cannot know in advance.

“Even though you see a lot of qualities in a player he has to put that quality into the service of your team. That also happened with Angel Di Maria and Falcao – great players but you have to fit in the philosophy and wait and see whether that shall come or not.

“That is the same with Memphis, with every player that we have bought.”

Di Maria who cost United a British record fee of £59.7 million was allowed to leave for Paris Saint-Germain in the summer because in Van Gaal’s view the Argentinian failed to adhere to his team ethic, while Falcao’s loan spell ended without any permanent move for similar reasons.

 

Memphis Depay (right) has had a mixed start to his Manchester United career

Now Depay’s future is already on the line although Van Gaal has worked with him before during his spell as Holland boss and will cut him some slack.

“Do I still believe in him? Of course, why not?” Van Gaal added.

United return to Moscow on Wednesday night, the city in which they lifted the Champions League trophy in 2008, for a vital qualifying group game against CSKA.

 

But before making the trip Van Gaal admitted that winning the Premier League would give him more satisfaction than being crowned champions of Europe.

“For me it's the Premier League. It is a greater prize because I have already won the Champions League.

“The Premier League I have never won so that is more important. But every title is welcome.” he stated.