It is an answer, but not much comfort to Ander Herrara fans
Once again this week, a Manchester United team sheet appeared (for the FA Cup replay with Cambridge this time) and yet again Ander Herrera didn't make Louis van Gaal's starting XI.
That prompted a flood of Manchester United fans to take to Twitter to ask
'what the hell has Ander Herrera done' and now we might have an answer of sorts.
The
Mirror asked the Manchester United manager the very same question that fans had been asking on Twitter and the Dutch man answered.
"I have to compare him with people like [Wayne] Rooney and [Juan] Mata, for example, so that's difficult. They all have a high level - he has to improve.
“He's a great guy, he's a very great professional also, so that's not the problem. His problem is that he has to compete with high-level players and Rooney is also the captain, so he has a privilege.
“I have explained that, so then the other places are for positions in this system that we are playing now - the
No.10 - and that's Mata, that's [Angel] Di Maria."
So, Herrera is behind Mata, Di Maria and Rooney for a spot. That sounds like Herrera fans are not going to be seeing too much of the £28million Spaniard.
Van Gaal added that the situation was one that Herrera was aware of since the summer and that he was getting better.
“That's difficult to compete with, but that he already knew the moment that he signed for Manchester United - do you understand?
“When you sign for a top club like he did, he knows that he has to fight, but he is fighting. I said to him this week that he was coming back. A lot of weeks he was down [in performance level], but now he is coming back."
In short, if you still have Ander Herrera in your fantasy team, definitely take him out.
