Guus Hiddink Discusses Memphis Depay Form Ahead of Manchester United vs. Chelsea

Chelsea manager Guus Hiddink has backed Manchester United winger Memphis Depay to succeed in the Premier League but said his fellow Dutchman needs time to adapt to the division.

Memphis, 21, made a big-money summer move to Old Trafford from PSV Eindhoven but has failed to produce consistently good performances for United and calamitously gave away the first goal against Stoke City on Boxing Day with a poor header.

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Ahead of the Red Devils hosting Chelsea on Monday, Hiddink—who recently managed Memphis with the Dutch national team—suggested that the winger needs the assistance of United's more experienced players to improve, per Luke Gardener in the Daily Star:

"

He's a very young guy. When he was in Holland he was one of the star players, at a very young age. There is a lack of star players in Holland who are playing already many years in their league so at a young age he was bombarded as one of the big talents.

He has this talent but he's also now having a confrontation with the demands of the Premier League, which are much higher in intensity of the game during 90 minutes. That's a period all players, not just him, have to overcome, and I think they need time for that.

He has this talent, but he's also giving interviews saying, "Hey, I have to get used to another way of playing, the intensity of the games every three days, plus the intensity of the game."

Those guys, they need a bit the cover of experienced players.

"

The Dutch international has netted only twice in 14 Premier League appearances this season, per WhoScored.com.

He has been the cause of much frustration among the United faithful because of his penchant for losing the ball and he has also endured some off-field scrutiny, per Steve Bates in the Sunday People.

However, as hinted at by Hiddink, Memphis is getting little experienced support from those around him.

A combination of injuries and lack of form—particularly from Wayne Rooney—has led United manager Louis van Gaal to be over-reliant on the likes of Memphis, Anthony Martial and Jesse Lingard.

Though all three are talented, the idea that they should be able to consistently win games for United is laughable.

It is a damning indictment of the squad depth at United that they were all fielded earlier this month when United needed a victory against Wolfsburg to advance to the Champions League knockout rounds.

Memphis was hooked at half-time by Van Gaal against Stoke after his error had led to the opening goal in a 2-0 defeat to Stoke, not the first time this season the youngster has been substituted early, per Squawka:

His confidence is undoubtedly at a low ebb and he may not be in the starting XI against the Blues.

Memphis' natural invention has likely been quashed by Van Gaal's rigid tactics and he perhaps needs a new manager to arrive before he can fully flourish in the Premier League.

But, as Hiddink notes, it is too write him off after less than half a season in the English top flight would be foolish, and he may yet become an essential part of United's attack in the coming years.