Manchester United’s star striker Robin van Persie has told his teammates that they need to adapt to Louis van Gaal’s new system, because that is simply their job, as reported by the Daily Star.
Since the introduction of Van Gaal’s 3-5-2, which he used to great success at this summer’s World Cup with the Netherlands, Man Utd have failed to win a single match, losing against Swansea in the league and drawing with both Sunderland and Burnley.
There was also a significant humbling in the League Cup away from home, with Van Gaal’s troops travelling to MK Dons and experiencing a huge 4-0 defeat.
Van Persie has, however, said that the job of the players is to do what the manager tells them, and that they should start executing his plans to better effect.
Van Persie said: “It’s plain and simple. The manager chooses his tactics.
“We, the players, have nothing else to do than to execute what the manager has in his mind.
“Tactics and formation are matters of the manager and his staff, not something the players must get involved in.
“We, the players, have not been educated as coaches. We are players, we play.
“I don’t think we should even want to get involved in tactical discussions.
“Whether it is 4-3-3, 3-5-2, nothing can be an excuse for another defeat. We have to adapt to every manager. There’s not one way or method in football.”
At 31 years old, Van Persie is now one of the more senior players in Man Utd’s side, but could find himself missing out on the first team after the acquisition of Radamel Falcao on deadline day.
