Louis Van Gaal Confirms “New” Left Forward Signing Is Done
United continued their winless streak on Saturday when they drew against Crystal Palace away from home. They had drawn City in another goalless stalemate in the Derby upper weekend and also gained just a point against CSKA Moscow when they visited the Russians upper Wednesday.
Their only defeat in their last 4 games came against Championship side, Middlesbrough in the League Cup round of 16 when they lost via penalties after another draw. With Moscow visiting the Theater of Dreams on Tuesday in the 2nd leg of the Champions League fixtures, the Dutch coach has expressed his concerns over the lack of wins, and most importantly the positions of his attacking players, Martial’s left wing role in particular.
The coach has started the teenage sensation as a winger on the left in the recent fixtures while he has had to move to a more central position during the games. Anthony Martial has been in his best as a frontman as evident in the rise in goal attempts when this happens, and could be permanently drafted to lead the attack in place of the fumbling Wayne Rooney. Depay has been poor and dropped to the bench. He isn’t certain to be fit for the Champions League match after picking up a knock against Middlesborough. United need goals, and returning Martial to his rightful place seems the only option: time for a new left wing forward?
Van Gaal is however not sure of what decisions to make ahead of the crucial fixture,
“We don’t know Martial’s best position yet because he played always in Monaco as a left winger; as manager I have to see what the best balance in the team is. That’s not so simple, so I have to decide every week dependable on the game plan and qualities of opponent, and so on. In Monaco he played more or less always on the left wing.”