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Van Gaal insists he trusts Man United players as Rooney and Martial produce quality
LOUIS VAN GAAL had insisted on the eve of the game that he didn’t like competition for places, preferring instead to trust his players.
Manchester United boss Louis van Gaal insists he has trust in the players he has in his squad
Maybe it was just a coincidence then that the prospect of a new striker arriving at Old Trafford suddenly brought the best out of Wayne Rooney and Anthony Martial.
United are on alert after Southampton’s Sadio Mane – the subject of a £15m bid last summer – was dropped by Ronald Koeman for turning up late for a team meeting, raising doubts over his future.
But with perfect timing Martial and Rooney produced some compelling evidence that the unwavering trust Van Gaal has placed in them to solve United’s goal shortage is not misplaced.
It wasn’t just that Martial scored the first and made the other goal for Rooney – the first time two United strikers have been on the scoresheet in the same game for the first time this season. It was more that they looked a partnership, linking up well, playing closer together at times, running at defenders and getting into the penalty area more often.