‘Don’t expect Di Maria to transform United’

Coach Van Gaal lowers expectations ahead of EPL clash against Burnley.

LONDON:

Louis van Gaal admits not even his record-breaking swoop for Angel di Maria will be enough to revive Manchester United immediately as the Argentina star prepares for his debut at Burnley on Saturday.

Van Gaal shattered the British transfer record with his £59.7 million signing of Di Maria from Real Madrid as he continued a major overhaul of United’s underachieving squad which has exceeded £130 million since he took charge.

Di Maria should get his first taste of the Premier League at some stage during United’s trip to Turf Moor, but Van Gaal is not expecting miracles from the midfielder despite his impressive pedigree.

United are still waiting for their first victory under Van Gaal after losing to Swansea, drawing with Sunderland and then suffering an abject 4-0 defeat at League One minnows Milton Keynes Dons in midweek.

Although David Moyes’ ill-fated reign left plenty of problems, Van Gaal’s poor start is still a surprise and, while the former Netherlands coach didn’t want to criticise his predecessors at Old Trafford, he made it clear the issues at United won’t be solved by Di Maria alone.

“That is looking at the past,” said Van Gaal said when asked if he had been left with a poor squad. “That is a question that I don’t want to answer. Why? Because I want to show my respect to David Moyes and [Alex] Ferguson.

“I think we have to look to the future and what we are doing now which is restoring and rebuilding a new team.

“That takes time and I am sorry to say that for the fans. We cannot expect after two days’ training that Di Maria is the miracle for us.

“You have to work for the miracle. He has to adapt to the qualities of the team but also the team has to adapt to his qualities.”

Blues’ title credentials up for test against Everton

Chelsea have a 100% record, but those wins came against newly-promoted Burnley and Leicester, making Saturday’s trip to Everton the first serious test of the Blues’ title credentials.

Jose Mourinho’s side are likely to come up against one or both of their former strikers Romelu Lukaku and Samuel Eto’o.

Lukaku, who hopes to recover from a toe injury, and Eto’o, who could make his debut after joining Everton this week, were both allowed to leave Chelsea by Mourinho, and Blues captain John Terry knows the old boys will be out for revenge.

“We’ve struggled away to Everton in the last couple of years,” said Terry.

“Obviously Lukaku will be up front as well, with a point to prove — him being sold from the club.”

Champions City are also off to a 100% start and will expect to maintain their winning record at home to Stoke.

And Bacary Sagna believes City can complete a clean sweep of trophies this season as the French defender prepares to make his debut on Saturday.

“We want to win everything but we know how difficult it will be,” said Sagna.

“We are the Premier League champions and we know everyone will want to beat us, but we will be ready.”

Published in The Express Tribune, August 30^th, 2014.

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