Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal has insisted that club record signing Angel Di Maria will be given his chance to impress between now and the end of the season.
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The Argentinian international, who joined from Real Madrid last summer, has had to settle for a place on the bench in the last two games since returning from suspension.
After being shown a red card against Arsenal in the FA Cup quarter-final last month, he was forced to sit out the Tottenham game the following weekend.
He was available again for the trip to Anfield before the international break but van Gaal decide to keep faith in the XI that beat Spurs.
Against Aston Villa on Saturday he was used a substitute yet again but staked a claim for a starting berth ahead of the Manchester derby next weekend by registering his 10th assist of the season for Wayne Rooney’s goal.
But speaking to the club’s official website after the game, the Dutch manager has been pleased with the 27-year-old contributions off the bench in recent games and hinted that his freshness will work in the side’s advantage as the season nears it’s end:
“I have said that already – expensive is not the issue.” he said.
“Do I have to make a line-up with the most expensive players? I don’t think so.”
“That is not an argument, in my opinion, but an argument is that he gave his 10th assist and he did not play all the games like Herrera, so it is fantastic.” he added.