Rooney’s absence is a major blow to a United side that has scored just three goals in their last five games at Old Trafford – including three goalless draws.
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“Wayne’s is a nasty injury”, said the Dutchman.
“Also the injury of Wayne Rooney is more heavy [serious] than we thought, so neither can play”. His ankle is not good enough and we have to recover that ankle with a lot of strength. “We have to let him train to make the ankle stronger, that’s very important”, Van Gaal told MUTV on Friday. He needs more time.
Manchester United will need to win both games, especially the Champions League matchup on the road in Germany if they want to progress past the group stages. With Luke Shaw and Antonio Valencia out with long-term injuries, United go in to the Hammers game without six first team players. The Southampton legend believes that Rooney is struggling to express himself in Van Gaal’s rigid system which favours the results over the style of play.
Juan Mata expects Manchester United to rediscover the winning formula as they aim to step up their Premier League title challenge against West Ham on Saturday.
Louis van Gaal has revealed that he’d quit if he felt the “chemistry” wasn’t right at United.
The Argentinian worldwide could face a significant spell on the sidelines as it is reported that it is the same shoulder that he injured last season, according to The Independent, which kept him out of action for four weeks.
“Whether he shall be operated on is a question for Marcos and the doctor”.
‘But when you see our figures, they are very good at home.
Phil Jones (ankle/foot) and Ander Herrera (hamstring) are also ruled out against eighth-placed West Ham, but young midfielder Jesse Lingard (hamstring) is returning to fitness after missing the game against Leicester. It seems to have dwindled a bit and I’m not sure if that’s down to the manager because with Martial we witnessed the same.
Injuries have been a regular problem for Louis Van Gaal this season.
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“We are looking [at players for January] but as you know it is not so easy to buy players and in January it is more hard”.
