Louis van Gaal: Putting Radamel Falcao in the reserves is not a 'humiliation'

LOUIS VAN GAAL said he didn't humiliate misfit
striker Radamel Falcao by playing him in Manchester
United's reserve team this week.

Van Gaal said the Colombian striker understood the
reasons why he played in the under 21 fixture
against Tottenham on Tuesday - to improve his
confidence and fitness.

And he pointed out that Michael Carrick, Ashley
Young, Jonny Evans and Adnan Januzaj have all
played for the under 21s this season, saying:

"We
pay players to play whether it's for the first team or
second."

But with Van Gaal admitting he had no idea why
Falcao has struggled in English football, United still
seem highly unlikely to turn Falcao's loan move from
Monaco into a permanent deal this summer.

He said: "I have read that it's a 'humiliation' but I
don't think so. It's a professional attitude, a
professional attitude of the manager, of his
management of the club but especially also from the
player.

"He has not reacted like the media have reacted. I
have explained already five months ago that every
player who doesn't play has to play sometimes, not
regularly, but sometimes when we think it's needed
to play more minutes in the second team.

"Not only Falcao
played on Tuesday,
also Victor Valdes
and Rafa da Silva.

Rafa played a very
good match and
scored a wonderful
goal and because of
that he can grab his
confidence again.

"That can pick up all
the players who are playing in the second squad
because although it is a lower level [than first team
football] players can play more than 70 minutes [of
competitive football] for example, and that's not
normal in an every day training session.

"Every player needs match rhythm. We pay a lot for
the players so it is normal they play football for us,
that is also in the second team. Falcao didn't play his
best match in the second team but he tried to do his
utmost best, more I can't ask of players."

After scoring only four goals this season Falcao has
been left on the bench for United's last three games
fuelling suggestions that United have already made
up their mind to send him back to Monaco.

Asked why it is has not worked for a player who was
so successful with his former clubs, Van Gaal said:

"You never can say that. We are looking for the
solution for him but you never can know that. There
are a lot of aspects you can't control as a manager,
nor as a player.

"That's also the beauty of the football world, that you
can give fantastic performances in another country
but not in the country you are playing in presently.

"This is not the first example and it shall not be the
last example. A lot of players need more time to
adapt to the new situation, to the new culture, to the
higher rhythm of the English game - to a lot of
aspects.

"You can easily write 'He can't play football, he didn't
do that.' But I can't say that and don't want to say
that because Falcao, and all the other players, are
working very hard and I'm very pleased with their
attitude.

"At a club like Manchester United, it's more difficult
than at a minor club because he has competitors
here and now Wayne is playing there and Wayne is
scoring. So you always have to compare players with
each other but you also need luck and you need a lot
of luck when you're a striker because you are more
dependent on your fellow players.

"But he is doing his utmost best. He shows a
professional attitude - not only Falcao but all the
other players - but you can't always win."

Even though Robin Van Persie is still ruled out,
Falcao looks set to remain on the bench for Sunday's
vital game against top four rivals Tottenham.