Boss: "Be patient with young stars"

Report by Adam Bostock on the official Manchester United website.

Louis van Gaal had a message for both sets of supporters ahead of Manchester United’s Champions League opener against PSV Eindhoven – to be patient with the clubs’ emerging talents.

The United manager was sitting alongside 21-year-old Memphis Depay at the pre-match press conference, but the former PSV star was just one of the players namechecked by the boss when the talk turned to demographics. Specifically, van Gaal was asked by a local journalist whether fans should be concerned about the standard of the Dutch league given the increasing proliferation of young players.

“No, I don’t think so,” the Reds boss replied. “The Eredivisie is very nice to watch, the tactical solutions are very nice to watch also, but of course the players are young. The Eredivisie is becoming younger and younger and that is why you have to be patient.

“I also have to be patient for Memphis and the fans have to be patient too. We also have to be patient for Jesse Lingard, Andreas Pereira and Adnan Januzaj and players like them. You cannot demand that players of 19, 20 and 21 years are consistent. You have to accept that.”

French teenager Anthony Martial is also in that bracket of course, with van Gaal insisting that it’s too early to assess how United’s latest acquisition is adapting to his new surroundings. Speaking before an open training session at the Philips Stadion, the manager said: “We have only had one light training session since the Liverpool match because we have to play tomorrow against PSV.

“Martial's impression so far is good. But it’s the same as for Memphis, you have to give him time. And I am saying that to the fans as well, because he cannot change the market price.”

Memphis himself can see the benefits of being among other young players in the dressing room. When asked if he would assist Martial and vice versa as the pair continue to acclimatise, the Dutchman said at the press conference: "We are both young so we can help each other. The same is true for Luke Shaw. I speak to him a lot and he has played more than me in the Premier League of course so I ask him a lot of questions. We can all help each other."

Former United player Mickey Thomas was dismayed by a degree of impatience in the crowd during the fruitless first half against Liverpool on Saturday. He told ManUtd.com in Eindhoven: "Expectations for Memphis are so high but I think the fans need to give him more time to settle in and be more patient.

"People who are expecting more from him at this stage, and it’s partly because he wears the iconic no.7 shirt, are being a bit unfair because he’s only been here for a short period of time. Let him get on with what he needs to do and I’m sure he’ll be a wonderful player for this football club."

Jade Christopher Bentley Adams signing off
(@jcba & IG @jcba_official)