Louis van Gaal Talks Anthony Martial, Wayne Rooney Form at Manchester United

Manchester United coach Louis van Gaal has said the form of Anthony Martial has outstripped Wayne Rooney's in the striker role, forcing the Dutchman to favour the teenager ahead of the England captain.

Jamie Jackson of the Guardian reported Van Gaal refused to be drawn on recent criticisms of his skipper from club legend Roy Keane, but he explained why the recent signing from Monaco has been given centre-forward duties ahead of Rooney:

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At this moment, he [Rooney] doesn’t play in the striker’s position, Martial is playing there. But it is possible he shall play other matches there. It is dependable not always on the quality and shape of the player at the moment, but also the gameplan. And we have to decide that every week.

It is how Martial played when he was in the striker’s position. I have to compare every player, then I think with playing like that, we are stronger. I shall always line up the strongest team of that moment. But that moment the other week can be different.

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The Red Devils have struggled to hit the back of the net this term, as United's attack consistently fails to create genuine quality in the last-third of the pitch. 

The club recorded yet another goalless draw in their recent Champions League match against PSV Eindhoven, and they could now be eliminated from Europe's prime competition due to their lack of scoring. 

Keane laid the blame at the feet of Rooney after the draw with PSV, telling ITV (h/t Matt Morlidge of MailOnline) the No. 10 looks "awful," criticising his physical and mental conditioning:

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Wayne [Rooney] was on about lack of composure and quality, but I think he was as guilty as anybody. He needs to step up to the plate. You look at Wayne's legacy at Old Trafford, it's absolutely fantastic. His goals record is brilliant. But now he's the captain there's more responsibility and I think he's got to do a lot more.

[...]

He doesn't look sharp, he looks awful. Mentally he doesn't look really sharp, physically he doesn't look in great shape. He needs to have a look at himself.

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The 30-year-old has started to look his age over the past year, and his lack of potency will concern United fans. Rooney has only three goals from his 15 appearances in the Premier League and Champions League group phase, according to WhoScored.com.

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Martial has looked the most credible option in United's attack, and the recent good form of Jesse Lingard has elevated his status in Van Gaal's squad, adding further pressure on Rooney's starting role. 

The erratic start to life at Old Trafford for Memphis Depay has kept Rooney in the side, and if the young Dutchman can find his shooting boots, it will be the Merseysider who should make way. 

Goal.com's Kris Voakes highlighted the differences between Rooney's form with that of his international team-mate Jamie Vardy, who has netted 13 Premier League goals this season:

Voakes further added in his column: 

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Rooney has been the personification of United going forward this term. Louis van Gaal might have made them a more solid outfit defensively but they have become one-dimensional and predictable in attack as a by-product. United have scored just six goals more than Vardy to this point, and only four clubs (Stoke, Sunderland, Newcastle and West Brom) have registered fewer shots at goal.

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Van Gaal has kept faith in Rooney despite the obvious flaws in his current game and stats. The striker has lost any pace he might have previously possessed, and it is difficult to see a long-term future for the player at the club, despite his lofty status. 

Martial has the potential to become one of the best strikers in the world in the seasons ahead, and Rooney must not be allowed to stunt his progression, as Van Gaal switches the youngster out wide to accommodate the attack. 

However, unless Rooney starts to score goals in the coming weeks, United's chances of immediately guaranteeing silverware are close to zero, despite having one of the meanest defences in England. The Dutchman would need to find a goalscorer in the January transfer window to be able to make a charge for the Premier League title.