• Premier League

I was right to sell Welbeck, says Van Gaal

Louis van Gaal believes his decision to sell Danny Welbeck was fully justified as he was not the first United manager to omit the striker from his line-up.

Welbeck will be looking to prove a point when he faces the team he supported as a boy for the first time on Saturday. He was largely used as a winger under Sir Alex Ferguson and his successor David Moyes - who this week said he would not have sold Welbeck if he was still in charge at Old Trafford.

But a rejuvenated Welbeck has been in fine since his £16 million move to the Emirates, scoring five goals for Arsenal and the same amount for England. Wayne Rooney and Robin van Persie have scored just three goals each for United this season.

Danny Welbeck is enjoying life at Arsenal © Getty Images

Enlarge

Related Links

• News: Van Gaal undecided on buying Falcao
  
• News: Welbeck can do a job out wide, says Wenger
  
• News: Wenger concerned by 'jaded' Sanchez
  
• News: Wenger: Henry is welcome back at Arsenal - if he is serious
  
• News: Rooney: Welbeck was right to leave
  
• News: Wenger: Arsenal lack 'experience' in defence
  

However, Van Gaal stands by his decision to sell the United Academy product, who grew up in Longsight, just four miles away from Old Trafford.

When asked whether he expected to be justified in his decision to sell Welbeck and loan Radamel Falcao - who has played just five times for United, scoring one goal - Van Gaal said: "I hope so. That is clear, I think."

He added: "We have Van Persie and [James] Wilson, and when you keep Welbeck, you don't give any chances to youngsters. That's also our philosophy, to give opportunities to youngsters.

"And then also we could buy Falcao. So if that is not enough reason, then I don't know - I'm not a very good manager. For him it was a very good decision because as a line-up player he develops himself much more.

"If it was right for Manchester United is dependable on how they play, how they score and in what position we shall finish in the league."

Van Gaal denied he gave up on Welbeck, saying: "Here, Danny Welbeck did not play every match. He was not a line-up player; he was more substitute than [in the starting] line-up.

"With different coaches not a line-up player, then came Mr Van Gaal and the world is changing? No, the world is not changing - the facts are not my facts, they're the facts of Danny Welbeck."

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd