Radamel Falcao was absent from Manchester United’s Old Trafford clash with Southampton, and Louis van Gaal has revealed why…
Eyebrows were raised and questions were asked when Radamel Falcao failed to even make the bench for Manchester United’s Premier League clash with Southampton on Sunday, but Louis van Gaal claims injury was not the reason for his exclusion, according to ITV.
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The Red Devils looked fairly impotent against the well organised defence of Ronald Koeman’s side, and arguably could have benefited from the late introduction of their Colombian hit-man. Van Gaal was unable to call on him however, as he had been left out of the 18-man squad on the day.
Many suspected an injury, with the former Atletico Madrid man suffering frequently with knee problems over the last year. The Dutch manager revealed that it was simply a matter of rest and rotation however, and that the on loan striker’s absence was purely tactical.
“As a coach you have to take decisions and you have to look at the composition of your team and your selection and you have to look at your game plan,” he said.
“Therefore I have to decide that he is out of the 18 because I have to change, for example, [Luke] Shaw and [Angel] Di Maria.
“You have to look also to the needs of your selection at that time.
“We have a lot of players who are coming back and [Falcao] has played the last five matches in a row.”
Even if Falcao was in need of a rest, it seems strange that he didn’t even make the bench. With Robin van Persie proving ineffective, and the inexperience of James Wilson showing slightly on his introduction, it become abundantly clear just how much van Gaal’s side needed the star striker.