Van Gaal tells new players: No-one’s position at United is safe… even mine!

The manager warned Bastian Schweinsteiger, Morgan Schneiderlin, and Matteo Darmian, who will all be part of United’s tour of America that started on Monday, that they are not guaranteed a place in the first team as there is so much competition in the squad.

“I have to say to the players, you have to fight for your position,” began Van Gaal. “Never is it secure in top sport, even my position is not secure as you know. But also the players have to fight.”

“Morgan Schneiderlin has to fight Schweinsteiger, Michael Carrick, Daley Blind, these are the players who can play in the centre of midfield. Matteo Darmian has to fight with [Antonio] Valencia [for the right-back position], he knows that,” said the Dutchman.

“Michael Carrick knows it also, at the end of the season I have told him.”

But Van Gaal did admit that £12.7 million signing Darmian, who arrived from Torino, is better defensively than Rafael Da Silva. “I want always a player who can defend in the first place,” he added. “He is fast. He is also a reasonable header so that is also a plus.”

Da Silva could leave for Galatasaray, while Javier Hernández and Ángel Di María, who took part in the Copa América, will join the tour on 25 July.