• Burnley 0-0 Manchester United

Di Maria substitution precautionary, assures Van Gaal

ESPN staff
August 30, 2014
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The injury sustained by Angel Di Maria on his Manchester United debut is not serious, according to manager Louis van Gaal.

Di Maria suffered a kick to the calf by Burnley's Danny Ings in the second half of United's 0-0 draw on Saturday, a result that extended their winless start to the season.

The Argentina international, signed from Real Madrid for £59.7 million, was substituted in the 70th minute, but Van Gaal is not concerned about his fitness.

"It was a precaution," he said. "Today, we didn't see the world-class player from Madrid, but you can't expect that yet.

Angel Di Maria showed glimpses of the brilliance that saw United splash nearly £60 million © Getty Images
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"He has to adapt to the English culture and way of playing, but also to his fellow players. That needs time."

"The progress is there, but you have to win, a club like Manchester United have to win.

"At the moment it's certainly not a world-class team, but we have to wait, and have belief that it will come."

Asked about Robin van Persie's performance, Van Gaal said: "He played 60 minutes in his first game back, and 70 today, so I think it's a case of building up his game time.

"That's also frustrating, but that's part of football, because of the World Cup. It's a pity, but we have to do it because otherwise he wouldn't be fit."

Van Gaal also admitted two points from three games is not good enough for United and insisted their problems lie in attack rather than defence.

"I think we were the stronger team, certainly in the second half,'' the Dutchman told BT Sport 1.

"In the first half we didn't play a passing game that we did in the second half much better. We have also created more chances, but then you have to score, we could have scored.''

"We are not giving [away] a lot of chances, today in the first half maybe two and in the second half maybe two,'' he said.

"In the games we played earlier, we didn't give a lot of chances away, but we have to create more chances and today we have created chances to score and that is where we have failed.

"The progress is there, but you have to win, a club like Manchester United have to win. When you have two points [out of] nine that is not good enough and that is disappointing.''

After losing his first two matches to Chelsea and Swansea, Burnley boss Sean Dyche was pleased to see his side get their first point on the board.

''I thought we were very productive first half, extremely productive against a very good side. Second half we started very brightly and as the game wore on they began to control it better and we just got on the back foot a little bit," he said.

''Overall we are happy with a point, we can't be greedy, they're a very good side.

''I don't think there's a lack or organisation or energy to the team, it's that quality in the final third that wins you games and we were close again today."

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