Stoitchkov: Van Gaal destroying Manchester United

Stoichkov, a five-time La Liga winner and European champion with Barcelona, fell out with Van Gaal in 1998 and says Pedro only needs to look at how the Dutchman has treated goalkeeper Victor Valdes after he made the switch.

“So it was logical that his understanding was not so good“.

The wait is over and the Premier League will get back underway on Saturday lunchtime with last season’s fourth-place finishers Manchester United taking on the side that just missed out on a coveted place in the top four, Tottenham.

Although Depay failed to score on debut, his mazy runs and trickery brought United fans to the edge of their seats.

“I think he doesn’t trust him 100 per cent and I wouldn’t like a goalkeeper like that at Manchester United“.

The 21-year-old is also aware of the long list of players in United’s history who have displayed similar traits like Ryan Giggs, Ronaldo and George Best.

“I have to play with discipline in midfield”.

“He came out and commanded his box, which is what you want behind you as a defender because, when you’ve got a goalkeeper who comes out with that presence, it mops up a lot of the danger”.

Therefore, it would not be a surprise if van Gaal decides to stick to the backline which he has gone with during pre-season when Tottenham Hotspur pay a visit.

United coach Frans Hoek, a long-term ally of van Gaal, appeared to confirm United’s interest in the player to Spanish newspaper Sport, although he did admit the move was “difficult”.

United started brightly and showed good objective in possession this afternoon, but there will be some concerns over the lack of firepower on display.

Van Gaal is not desperate to sign a centre-half either, even though he will be without Phil Jones for at least three weeks because of thrombosis. It is more in the media they are discussing about a striker.

“I have said that in advance”.

“We go for the best players and it has to be possible”. This season I’ve aimed to hit the ground running. “Hopefully Pedro listens to me and doesn’t leave”. I said it before but they (the media) are not writing it. I have said it before, we have Rooney.