Football
Richard Jolly, ESPN.com writer 10y

Louis van Gaal urges Angel Di Maria patience at Manchester United

MANCHESTER -- Louis van Gaal has told Manchester United fans that they should not expect Angel Di Maria to be the miracle worker who can transform their fortunes straight away.

- WhoScored: Is Di Maria enough for Man Utd?

The United manager does believe, however, that the British record signing has the work ethic and the unselfishness to flourish at Old Trafford.

The Argentina international completed his 59.7 million-pound move from Real Madrid on Tuesday and is set to make his debut against Burnley on Saturday.

Van Gaal said in a news conference: "We cannot expect after two days' training sessions that he is the miracle. No, you have to work for the miracle and he knows that."

The Dutchman is warning against expecting an immediate impact from United's most expensive signing adding: "Maybe not in his first matches because he is now two days with us, or two days he trained with the team. He has to adapt to the qualities of the team and the team has to adapt to his qualities but I am thinking he will indeed be a player the fans can enjoy."

Van Gaal feels Di Maria's ability to create goals shows he is a player with the team's best interests at heart.

He explained: "That is also a reason we have chosen him. When you see his answers, he is a very modest guy and he wants to work. In every sentence, he is coming with this. He showed that also last year. He played 52 matches and gave 22 assists. How many players can say that? Twenty-two assists. Then you are also a very social being and in the football world that is not always the case.

"I am very pleased that we can have such a class player in our squad. You have many class players but for me also it is important that he is a team player and that is what I am liking in Di Maria: not only class, but he can also play in the interests of the team."

Van Gaal insisted Di Maria can slot into his current 3-4-1-2 formation and gives him the option of switching to a different system.

He said: "I only buy players that can improve our philosophy. He can accelerate our play and our style of play but he fits in our philosophy. What he can do more than fit in our philosophy is I can change the system for him and maybe I shall do that in the future, like I have already done [at half-time] against Swansea City.

"He played in Real Madrid not only as a wide wing player but also in midfield so that is also a reason why we are convinced he shall succeed."

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