Ryan Giggs Backs Louis Van Gaal, Angel Di Maria to Deliver at Manchester United

Manchester United's assistant manager, Ryan Giggs, has backed both manager Louis van Gaal and winger Angel Di Maria to succeed at Old Trafford despite recent criticism of the pair.

The 41-year-old Welshman took over temporarily at United after the sacking of David Moyes last season and stayed on to assist Van Gaal when the Dutchman took the reins in the summer.

After a seventh-placed Premier League finish last term, United are currently fourth, battling it out with Liverpool, Arsenal, Southampton and Tottenham for the final two Champions League spots.

Van Gaal has come in for significant criticism for United's current style of play, but Giggs is backing him to succeed in the top job, with Monday's FA Cup tie with Arsenal an important clash, per The Sun (h/t ESPN):

"

Winning trophies just gives you confidence going into the next season. We have got title-winning form the last three months. We have proved it. You have to do it over nine months and that is difficult to do in a very tough league. But that will definitely be the aim next season.

[...]

Without a shadow of a doubt that is the aim, it is not just about getting in the Champions League. That is the aim this season because we can't win the league, Chelsea are too far in front. If you win an FA Cup and get in the Champions League that is definitely, for me, a good season.

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Van Gaal will be hoping that Di Maria finds some form for Monday night's clash at Old Trafford. Victory would see United go to Wembley for the semi-finals of the FA Cup.

The Argentine made a record-breaking £59.7 million move to the Red Devils from Real Madrid last summer and started his United career well, but he has been in rotten form of late, per The Telegraph's Gary Neville:

After being one of the world's best players last term, Di Maria has looked a shadow of his former self of late, often losing the ball and failing to really threaten going forward.

However, Giggs is convinced the 27-year-old will come good in time, per PA Sport (h/t Eurosport): 

"

I think his confidence is fine. He's a quality player and we'll be looking for him to produce because it is big game after big game now. Players get used to different leagues, sometimes quickly and sometimes it takes a bit of time. He had a really good start to the season but with players who take risks and who can win games it's always difficult to be consistent because they will try things that other players won't do. They're capable of doing that and that's why they're match-winners and the best players.

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Despite only arriving at Old Trafford in the summer, reports have suggested United may cash in on Di Maria in the coming transfer window, per the Mirror's Simon Mullock.

However, his departure seems highly unlikely, per B/R UK's Alex Dimond, as United are clearly confident that Di Maria will come good:

Indeed, such is Di Maria's quality that he must surely turn his form around eventually, and Van Gaal and Giggs will hope he justifies his transfer fee as the season draws to a close and next term.

It certainly seems United are still in a period of transition, but they are set for a higher league finish than last term this season, and a return to the Champions League and/or an FA Cup win could well prove a galvanising factor for the entire outfit.