Louis van Gaal and Victor Valdes are arguing about reserve matches

by Brooks Peck

Emboldened by Manchester United’s effective new “SIGN EVERYONE!” policy, Louis van Gaal kicked off the club’s U.S. tour by announcing that goalkeeper Victor Valdes is on his way out for daring to defy The Philosophy™.

From the Guardian:

“He is not selected because he does not follow my philosophy. There is not one place for one player – the philosophy is how you play football and how you maintain your match rhythm. For example, he refused last year to play in our second team.

“That is one aspect of our philosophy but there are a lot of others for how you play like a goalkeeper for Manchester United,” said the Dutchman. “When you are not willing to follow the principles of the philosophy there is only one way and that is out.”

Asked if Valdés, who is 33 and has a year remaining on the 18-month contract he signed in January, would be sold, Van Gaal said: “Yes.”

Valdes, who was not invited on the U.S. trip, disputed this assertion, however. The next morning, he tweeted his confusion and called for respect, using images of three U-21 matches he played for Man United last season as evidence against Van Gaal’s claim.

Though three games in a span of four months isn’t evidence of much, it would be odd for Valdes to get touchy about not playing for the first team. Having previously played for Van Gaal at Barcelona, he surely must be familiar with The Philosophy™ and when he signed for Man United, Van Gaal made it crystal clear that he would be behind David De Gea. From Sky Sports:

“He joins the Club as the number two goalkeeper and is a great addition to the first team.” 

Maybe there’s more to the story. Maybe Van Gaal is drunk on the heady musk of Bastian Schweinsteiger. Or maybe Valdes is upset that he was given a silver Corvette instead of a red one.

 

Whatever the case, this is a dumb argument to be having, let alone in public and at what should be a positive time for the club. But the good news is that Ander Herrera is ready to put on the gloves if need be.

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