Louis van Gaal has refused to respond to Roy Keane\u2019s criticism of Wayne Rooney but admitted his captain is not playing well enough to take the centre-forward position from Anthony Martial.<\/p>\n
In the summer Rooney and Van Gaal said the striker would be the No9 for the season. The Liverpudlian was content at the prospect, stating he was confident of surpassing his best-ever 34-goal tally for the club in a single campaign.<\/p>\n
However, Rooney has struggled for form and often been asked to operate in the No10 berth. The 30-year-old has seven goals and is the side\u2019s top scorer. Yet during United\u2019s 0-0 draw at home to PSV Eindhoven on Wednesday, Keane was scathing about Rooney, saying: \u201cMentally he doesn\u2019t look sharp, physically he doesn\u2019t look in a great shape. He has to have a look at himself.\u201d<\/p>\n
That was brushed off by Van Gaal. \u201cI don\u2019t want to give the honour to answer this question because it is too much honour for the one who says things.\u201d<\/p>\n
The manager said it will be difficult for Rooney to score 25 goals as the England international is not currently the No9. \u201cAt this moment, he doesn\u2019t play in the striker\u2019s position, Martial is playing there,\u201d he said. \u201cBut it is possible he shall play other matches there. It is dependable not always on the quality and shape of the player at the moment, but also the gameplan. And we have to decide that every week.\u201d<\/p>\n
Van Gaal said Martial\u2019s form was blocking Rooney. \u201cIt is how Martial played when he was in the striker\u2019s position,\u201d the Dutchman said. \u201cI have to compare every player, then I think with playing like that, we are stronger. I shall always line up the strongest team of that moment. But that moment the other week can be different.\u201d<\/p>\n
Van Gaal said he always demands more of his squad. \u201cAs a manager you are never happy with the form and shape of a player,\u201d he said. \u201cYou cannot always be top of the bill. You always have something you want to be better, as a team and also as an individual player. You may think and criticise players or a team or a manager, but you have to do that with arguments, and not as a person. There is always something to improve the quality of a player, the quality of a team. Wayne is doing a lot, has a very great contribution in the team. So as a manager, I am satisfied with him.\u201d<\/p>\n
Van Gaal\u2019s side has been criticised for their style. He is happy with the buildup play and believes the issue is profligate finishing. \u201cAs a manager, you cannot train that,\u201d Van Gaal said. \u201cYou can put them in a situation \u2013 we are doing that, we are training in the third or fourth phase. That is also the communication between the players. As a trainer-coach, you cannot give patterns for that.\u201d<\/p>\n