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Ashley Young of Manchester United FC during the UEFA Champions League group B match between PSV Eindhoven and Manchester United on September 15, 2015 at the Philips stadium in Eindhoven, The Netherlands.(Photo by VI Images via Getty Images)
Ashley Young of Manchester United FC during the UEFA Champions League group B match between PSV Eindhoven and Manchester United on September 15, 2015 at the Philips stadium in Eindhoven, The Netherlands.(Photo by VI Images via Getty Images)VI-Images/Getty Images

Ashley Young Reacts to Neymar Jibe from Louis Van Gaal

Rory MarsdenSep 29, 2015

Manchester United winger Ashley Young has insisted he had no problem with being unfavourably compared to Barcelona's Brazilian superstar Neymar by Red Devils manager Louis van Gaal.

While United were on pre-season tour back in July, Van Gaal said "Young is not a Neymar" during a discussion about needing to add more creativity to his squad, per Tom Dutton in the Evening Standard.

Neymar Jr of FC Barcelona during the Primera Division match between FC Barcelona and Las Palmas on September 26, 2015 at Camp Nou stadium in Barcelona, Spain.(Photo by VI Images via Getty Images)

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Per Dutton, the comment was clearly not meant as a major criticism as Van Gaal had previously praised Young's "fantastic" 2014-15 season.

The Englishman has now insisted he had no issues with the comment or the comparison, per Press Association's Carl Markham (h/t the Daily Mail):

"

I wasn't bothered. The manager knows what I am capable of and that is why he has used me in games. I am always looking to attack in the position I am. I am one of those players who is creative on the ball and wants to attack. When you are called upon as a winger you want to create chances and get shots off and hopefully I am doing that.

"

Young may not be Neymar, but he has been very effective under Van Gaal when he has been given his opportunities.

He has made only one start in the Premier League so far this season as he is competing for the left-flank role with summer signing Memphis Depay, per WhoScored.com.

The 30-year-old has shown his worth, though, with some impact substitute appearances, not least in United's 3-1 win against Liverpool earlier this month when he replaced Memphis at half-time and helped change the game.

Van Gaal's side face Wolfsburg on Wednesday in the Champions League and need to put points on the board in Europe's premier club competition as they lost to PSV Eindhoven 2-1 in their opening game.

They also lost Luke Shaw to a long-term injury against the Dutch champions and Van Gaal has touted Young as a potential makeshift replacement at left-back, per PA Sport's Paul Hirst:

He could be handed a starting opportunity at left-back on Wednesday as Marcos Rojo is struggling for fitness and Daley Blind is currently excelling at centre-back.

Matteo Darmian switch flanks to play on the left in United's 3-0 defeat of Sunderland at the weekend—while Antonio Valencia filled the right-back role.

But Van Gaal may wish to restore the Italian to his more natural position against Wolfsburg to combat the likes of Andre Schurrle and Julian Draxler, thus potentially handing Young an opportunity to shine.

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