MX23RW : Wednesday, January 15 09:15:32| >> :60:61:61:

Louis van Gaal: 'Robin van Persie must improve'

Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal wants Robin van Persie to improve his game if he wants to keep his place in the starting lineup.

Manchester United boss Louis van Gaal wants Robin van Persie to have more influence on games if he is to keep his place in the Dutchman's starting XI.

Van Gaal admitted that his compatriot had a poor game against Arsenal last week, with the 31-year-old only touching the ball 13 times.

"I do think 13 is few for a striker," Van Gaal is quoted as saying by the Belfast Telegraph. "I want to improve that. You can count his touches on the ball but more important is how he is playing.

"It was a very bad game for him. That is why I changed him. When I change a player, it is not because he is the best player on the pitch. You are doing something wrong. I believe in the players. When I change them, normally, it is because they are doing something not good in their performance.

"When you pick up this match it is easy to put a question about 13 touches. Okay. But strikers do not touch the ball often. That is their profession."

Van Persie has managed eight goals in 21 Premier League games in 2014.

ID:190623: cacheID:190623:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:restore:2005:
Written by
Phil Archbold
Restore Data
Share this article now:
Manchester United's Dutch striker Robin van Persie shoots but Chelsea's Belgian goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois saves during the English Premier League football match between Manchester United and Chelsea at Old Trafford in Manchester, north west England, on
Read Next:
Inter 'eyeing Van Persie swoop'
>
rhs 2.0
Today's games header
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Liverpool20145148202847
2Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest21125430201041
3Arsenal20117239182140
4Chelsea21107441261537
5Newcastle UnitedNewcastle20105534221235
6Manchester CityMan City2110563829935
7Bournemouth219753225734
8Aston Villa209563032-232
9Fulham217953230230
10Brentford218494037328
11Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton2061043029128
12West Ham UnitedWest Ham217592741-1426
13Tottenham HotspurSpurs20731042301224
14Manchester UnitedMan Utd206592328-523
15Crystal Palace204972128-721
16Everton193881525-1017
17Wolverhampton WanderersWolves2044123145-1416
18Ipswich TownIpswich2037102035-1516
19Leicester CityLeicester2035122344-2114
20Southampton2013161244-326


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
Argentina's Lionel Messi kisses the World Cup trophy after collecting the Golden Ball award on December 18, 2022Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!