Di Maria must change his behaviour – Van Gaal

punchng.com

Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal has warned Angel Di Maria that he must change his ways if he wants to make a mark at Old Trafford.

United splashed a British-record €82 million to lure Di Maria from Real Madrid last August but his form has tailed off following a promising start.

Since being sent off against Arsenal in March, he has not started any of the subsequent eight matches.
The Argentine himself admitted that his first season in English football has “not been good enough” and vowed to improve and win titles with United.

But Van Gaal says that he must “change his behaviour” if he is to work his way into the first-team picture.

“The players have had to adapt to the philosophy and Di Maria has to do that,” the Red Devils boss said at a press conference at United’s training centre.

“He can still do that, of course, because every player can but it’s important that he wants to do that in his head.

“When you are open to coaching, then you can change but a change of behaviour is very difficult. Always, the old errors are coming back so a change of behaviour is not so easy so we have to wait and see.

“It’s not that Di Maria doesn’t have the quality. He has to perform in a way that we want. Not in the way I want but in the way we want as a club.”

United welcome Arsenal to Old Trafford on Saturday, with only two points separating them – in fourth and third, respectively – in the Premier League standings