Marc Overmars Defends Louis Van Gaal, Ashley Young Reportedly 'Stunned' by Snub

Netherlands legend Marc Overmars has leapt to the defence of Manchester United boss Louis van Gaal after the Dutchman came under fire following Saturday's 2-1 defeat to Bournemouth, which leaves the Red Devils on a five-game winless run.

According to Simon Austin's exclusive in the Sun, the former Arsenal winger said:

"

It’s crazy to criticise him so much already. 

In football you need patience. 

They are building a new team. Yes, they have spent a lot of money, but leave him to do his job. 

He has had difficult times before in his career, but always comes through. He will survive and build a very strong team.

"

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Despite Van Gaal's man-management skills and training methods being called into question this season, the 42-year-old—who played under Van Gaal at both Ajax and Barcelona—backed his compatriot in both regards.

Overmars said: "Van Gaal is a strong character but is fair and listens to his players. We always enjoyed his training, it was fantastic. But he wants 100 percent every day—whether you are 18 or 35."

Overmars also dismissed the notion the 64-year-old—who won the majority of his managerial honours in the 1990s—has seen modern football pass him by, adding: "In his head he is still very young, the same man he was 10 years ago."

Now director of football at Ajax, Overmars believes the recruitment of Memphis Depay and Anthony Martial will pay great dividends under the Dutch manager, but urged United fans to have patience:

"

United recruited someone with a fantastic record of improving talented players. Then they signed two of the best young talents in the world.

The third ingredient you need is patience, because you don’t get results straight away.

Martial is a player we followed very closely, since he was 16 and at Lyon. He moved to Monaco for a lot of money and will become a top, top player, we have already seen that. Depay was fantastic last season in our league last season, the top scorer even though he played wide.

"

Football writer Liam Canning is less optimistic the situation will improve:

"

LvG can’t get the best out of his players, they aren’t giving 100% and look disconnected. Losing to Bournemouth surely ringing alarm bells.

— Liam (@OffsideLiam) December 12, 2015"

"

I really didn’t want be #LvGOut, but I just can’t see how this is going to get better. Game by game, it’s becoming worse!

— Liam (@OffsideLiam) December 12, 2015"

Samuel Luckhurst of the Manchester Evening News seems inclined to agree:

Aside from their lethargic and uninspired play in the final third, Van Gaal has also faced criticism for some increasingly bizarre decisions in recent weeks, such as his choice to bring on 21-year-old Nick Powell—who has barely kicked a ball in 10 months—against Bournemouth instead of Ashley Young despite his side lacking the natural width he could provide, per Canning:

Luckhurst explained his absence:

Nevertheless, the Sun's Neil Custis reports the 30-year-old was given the green light by United's medical department ahead of the game, and Young himself has been "left stunned" after failing to escape the bench in the Red Devils' last three outings.

Jon Super/Associated Press

The wideman has had his share of ups and downs at United, but as Custis notes, he has proven a useful asset to Van Gaal and is now one of their more experienced players.

A home game with relegation candidates Norwich City awaits in United's next match, and failure to get a positive result and produce an improved performance will see the pressure mount on the Dutchman.

The Canaries are likely to get men behind the ball in a compact formation, so Young's width and trickery could prove highly useful. Whether he gets the chance to prove that is another matter entirely, though, and he might equally be left kicking his heels on the bench once again.