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Louis van Gaal: Ander Herrera must improve to reclaim starting place
LOUIS VAN GAAL has told Ander Herrera he must improve to compete with Wayne Rooney and Juan Mata for a place in Manchester United's starting line-up.
Ander Herrera player profile
While Herrera returned to full fitness just before Christmas, he has struggled to claim a regular starting place in the Red Devil's squad.
And the United manager feels the Spaniard must improve to claim a regular place in the squad.
"I have to compare him with people like Wayne Rooney and Juan Mata for example, so that is difficult. They all have a high level, so he has to improve," said Van Gaal.
"He is a great guy and a great professional also, so that’s not the problem. His problem is that he has to compete with high-level players.
Ander Herrera has yet to reclaim a starting spot in the United squad after returning from injury
"Rooney is also the captain, so he has a privilege. The other reasons are the players who are in his positions.
They all have a high level, so he has to improve
"In this system for example – what we are playing now – that is Mata and that is Angel Di Maria.
"It is difficult to compete but he did already know that the moment he signed for Manchester United.
"When you sign at a top club like he did, he knows he has to fight, and he is fighting.
"I said this week that he was coming back. Some weeks he was down, but he is coming back now."
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