Manchester United Winners and Losers if Van Gaal Stays

Loser: Ander Herrera

Herrera’s relegation to starting matches on the bench is reflective of Van Gaal’s stubbornness in his team selection. Through no fault of his own, the Spaniard has found it immensely difficult to retain his spot among the starters. When he has played, Herrera has been a cog in the Manchester United attack, ranking in the upper levels of the team’s attacking influence.

Unfortunately, in his limited playing time, the former Bilbao midfielder is often played in a deeper position, with the consequence of showcasing his weakness in defense. Herrera has found more success further forward as a distributor rather than as an extra defensive layer ahead of the back four.

Even worse is the fact that he has been ousted from the starting team by the likes of Marouane Fellaini and Michael Carrick on numerous occasions. Regardless of where he’s played in the midfield, Herrera is leaps and bounds better than the other two options, in talent and in passion. Any question of the midfielder’s desire can be erased by remembering his sideline celebration against Liverpool at Anfield. There is no logical explanation for why Van Gaal is so strongly against starting Herrera.

Next: Winner: Marcus Rashford