LOUIS VAN GAAL was brought to Manchester United to win trophies and he’s failed at that. But he has kept another critical part of the club’s DNA going – giving young players a chance to impress.
Today at Old Trafford, he handed three players a top-flight debut. Two were 18-years-old and the other was 20.
Marcus Rashford had already made a splash on Thursday night with two goals against FC Midtjylland but there were other options other than retaining him in the lineup for a crucial clash with Arsenal.
Adnan Januzaj was available and could’ve slotted in on the left side with Memphis pushed up top.
Instead, van Gaal liked the energy and purpose Rashford delivered in the Europa League and had little hesitation in selecting him from the start.
When Marcos Rojo went down with injury on 55 minutes, one would’ve imagined Paddy McNair getting the nod to replace the Argentine.
The 20-year-old made in-roads last term and was used in high-profile games. Instead, van Gaal decided the time was right for 18-year-old Tim Fosu-Mensah to make his first senior appearance in the relatively unfamiliar role of left-back.
And finally, as United gamely held on in the dying moments, van Gaal didn’t turn to the more experienced Andreas Pereira as his final substitution but to James Weir, the 20-year captain of United’s reserve side.
With Guillermo Varela, Cameron Borthwick-Jackson and Jesse Lingard all gamely stepping up to the plate during United’s injury crisis, it’s proven to be a real success story of an otherwise turbulent season.
Van Gaal may not be around Old Trafford for much longer but he can be assured of a positive legacy due to his continuing of an important part of the United identity.
