Boss Van Gaal said the dutch striker is better for the Reds than he was for Holland during the World Cup
Robin van Persie looks set for a stay of execution tomorrow with United boss Louis van Gaal saying the under-fire Dutch striker is playing better for the Reds than he did for Holland at the World Cup.
In Brazil, van Persie netted four goals in six matches as van Gaal’s Dutch side won the bronze medal.
The 31-year-old had previously hit six in five international matches in the qualifiers.
This season at club level for van Gaal he has been unable to repeat that sort of form. He has scored just twice in seven games and has looked out of touch.
Some Reds fans have been turning against their 2013 title talisman, suggesting new signing Radamel Falcao should be given the strike role against Chelsea at Old Trafford tomorrow.
But van Gaal is backing van Persie and insists he’s not past his peak.
“I think he is fitter than ever,” said the Reds boss.
“He hasn’t scored so much. In the Dutch team he scored more than for United, and then he was not so fit as now. So that’s remarkable.
“He scored for me at the World Cup in spite of him maybe being only 80 per cent fit.
“Now he is maybe playing better but not scoring so much. He’s a little bit unlucky, like against West Bromwich Albion when it was hard to believe the ball stayed out of the goal when he had his shot.
“A striker needs a little bit of luck, and then the confidence is higher.
“But with his self-confidence, I expect he will score soon and maybe against Chelsea.
“No (he is not past his best), he has showed that at the World Cup and he is showing it now except for scoring goals, but it’s only a matter of time.
“Every striker has to be an attacking point. He has to play with the 10 other players. That’s important and it’s what he is now doing better than he was doing in the Dutch team.”
United’s man of the season so far, Angel Di Maria, is fit for the visit of the league leaders tomorrow after hobbling off at the Hawthorns on Monday night in the 2-2- draw with west Brom with a thigh injury.
The £59.7m Argentine trained on Thursday after missing two days with the problem and is now ready to maintain his 100 per cent Premier League appearance record since joining the Reds in August. Meanwhile, van Gaal set tongues wagging on Thursday when former Barcelona goalkeeper Victor Valdes accepted the United manager’s invitation to train at the club’s Carrington training complex as he looks to regain fitness following a cruciate knee ligament injury he suffered last March.
The 32-year-old had been given his Barca debut by van Gaal and had 12 years as their No.1 before announcing last term would be his final season at the club.
Injury wrecked his farewell but van Gaal has offered United’s facilities for him to carry on his rehabilitation sparking speculation Valdes could be brought in to challenge David de Gea.
“I have done it already with a lot of players,” he said. “I gave Ronald de Boer and Edgar Davids rehabilitation or training opportunities when they needed that.
“I have always done that, and not only with big players but ones you’ve never heard of.”
So will United sign the free agent Spaniard?
“Manchester United always have their eyes open!” van Gaal replied.
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