Carrick insists Van Gaal has players’ respect

Manchester United vice-captain Michael
Carrick insisted Sunday that under-fire
boss Louis van Gaal still commands the
loyalty of the players and it is
disrespectful to suggest otherwise.
Van Gaal is expected to be out of work
later Monday if United lose to Chelsea at
Old Trafford after a depressing run for
the English giants which has seen them
exit the Champions League and slip to
sixth in the table.
United are now on their longest run
without a win in 25 years.
“It is a horrible run, and it is a horrible
feeling. It hurts badly,” said Carrick.
“We can’t hide from it, we’re not going
to hide from it. That is how it is and we
all need to be better.
“It is a bit disrespectful when people say
that the lads aren’t trying for the
manager.
“We’re playing for this great club. It is a
special club. It is pride in yourself, pride
in the club and pride in everyone —
your team-mates and staff.”
Van Gaal oversaw training in
Manchester on Sunday and could be
boosted in Monday’s key clash by the
return of German star midfielder
Bastian Schweinsteiger who has missed
three games through suspension.
“When you lose four matches in a row
it’s much more difficult,” admitted the
64-year-old Van Gaal.
“It’s like that. And the pressure of the
environment shall increase, so it’s much
more difficult and there are no ways
artificial ways to solve that. We need a
victory and that is very important.”
Despite his mounting problems, the
Dutchman backed Carrick’s view that the
players and the manager are on the
same page.
“A month ago we were first in the
Premier League but we lost important
games and now we have to come back in
more difficult situations than last year
because last year everyone believed and
there was progression, now there is a
fallback and that is different and
everybody is judging also different,” he
said.
“That is what is happening now and you
have to cope with it.”
Should United fail to win on Monday,
they will end the year with their lowest
points total in 26 years.
Meanwhile, Chelsea’s interim manager
Guus Hiddink, a compatriot of Van
Gaal’s, leapt to the defence of another
Dutchman in the firing line — United
midfielder Memphis Depay.
Depay was substituted in Saturday’s 2-0
defeat at Stoke but Hiddink, who worked
with the youngster during his time in
charge of the Dutch national team,
insists he will come good.
“He’s very young. When he was in
Holland he was one of the star players,
at a very young age,” said Hiddink.
“There is a lack of star players in
Holland who are playing already many
years in their league so at a young age
he was seen as one of the big talents.
“He has this talent but he’s also now
having a confrontation with the
demands of the Premier League, which
are much higher in intensity of the game
during 90 minutes.
“That’s a period all players, not just him,
have to overcome, and I think they need
time for that.”