Manchester United manager, Louis Van Gaal, has criticised midfielder Anderson for his allegedly shocking level of fitness.
The Dutch coach admitted that he hasn’t been able to pick the Brazilian player because he has simply been unfit.
Van Gaal also explained that Anderson has been blighted by injuries since Van Gaal was appointed at the club in July, and that he is still reserving judgement on the player.
According to the Express , Van Gaal alluded to Anderson’s weight issues, which have long been a problem with the player. He then noted that Anderson hasn’t proven to him that he is actually fit enough to play for his side yet.
“I can’t pick [Anderson] now because you have to be fit. For the first three months the culture of a trainer is fitness. That is the smallest thing you can demand. Professional league fitness. Fitness is the most important thing. First you have to show your fitness. Not for just one day but for several weeks.”
Louis Van Gaal did confess though that he won’t completely rule out playing Anderson until he has managed to maintain his fitness.
But considering that his contract is going to run out in the summer, it is looking increasingly unlikely that the Brazilian will be at Old Trafford next season.
“I cannot judge him — but when he trains, he trains at a good level. He’s not always fit and that is more his problem now.”
Meanwhile, after Manchester United beat Hull City on Saturday, Louis Van Gaal declared that it was his side’s best performance of the season. United enjoyed a healthy 76 percent of possession against Steve Bruce’s side as they won by three goals to nil.
After the contest, Van Gaal was clearly overjoyed with what he had witnessed, and he told BBC News that they “dominated the game from the first minute to the last.”
“It was the best match of our season. What pleased me the most was the way we dominated the game from the first minute to the last minute. It was the first time we have done that.
“We created many chances, we did not give the ball away too much unnecessarily and we kept a clean sheet again. We knew in advance they would probably come with five defenders and a full midfield. So we trained to play the ball quick and we did that.
“When we come forward it has to be quick, and we did that against Hull much more than ever. I was very pleased and I told the players that at half-time and after the match too.”
[Image via Express]
