3 Manchester United Players Who Have Let Down Van Gaal: Wayne Rooney Tops The List

The pressure certainly was on Manchester United and Louis van Gaal as they faced Chelsea, United had lost four consecutive games in a row and there was a whiff in the air of an impending sacking for Van Gaal if the result didn’t go his way.

While Manchester United didn’t win the game, they didn’t lose it either but importantly it was the performance which could have saved Van Gaal’s career for the moment. In the first half, United were as good as they have been under the time of Sir Alex Ferguson and the team did not look anything like the boring side that has developed under Van Gaal.

Almost every player in the team was playing to their best ability but the team could not get the important goal which could have given Van Gaal more breathing room. This showing however, did prove that the team can play attractive football when there is a need for it. The players have certainly not played to their ability this season and the blame for United’s season could well fall on a few individuals.

1. Wayne Rooney

The buck does start and stop at the Manchester United captain. Wayne Rooney just has not started his season this time around under Louis van Gaal, though the stats would say that he is the leading scorer for the club this season with seven goals, just two of them have been scored in the league.

Rooney was expected to get back to his scoring best this season under Van Gaal but he has not been able to play in either the forward position or in the deeper positions. He might have all the ability but something is amiss from the England captain, he doesn’t have the passion and energy that was shown by him and without that spark raging inside him, it is a different Rooney that is letting Manchester United down.

2. Memphis Depay

The big money signing from PSV, there was a lot expected from the Dutch winger and even he was expected to make a huge difference to the Manchester United attack this season. That never transpired and now there are more questions about what car he drives rather than what he can do on the pitch, Stoke fans won’t mind though.

The 21-year-old hasn’t shown any ability to justify his price tag and it does feel like a waste of money from Louis van Gaal. Depay looks short of confidence or what to do on the pitch and until he gets his act together United will struggle to get any change from their attack.

3. Juan Mata

The Spaniard might have been one of the few bright spots last season for Manchester United and even during David Moyes’ ill-fated reign but Mata just hasn’t gotten on his bike this season for the club. The former Chelsea attacker hasn’t been able to find the form that saw him cement a place in Louis van Gaal’s side last season.

The attacker was in the thick of it against his former club but that is the level that he needs to play at every single game. Mata and United still have the second half of this season to rectify certain issues with their game and well they do need to take a good hard look at themselves if they are to get better and break into the top four.