Football
Arindam Rej, Man United Correspondent 8y

Manchester United boss Louis van Gaal claims side lacked title experience

Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal claimed his team were not in the title race because of a lack of experience -- but then revealed he was not aware of how many titles some of his players had won.

Seven members of United's squad have won the Premier League -- Wayne Rooney, Michael Carrick, Antonio Valencia, Phil Jones, Chris Smalling, David De Gea and Ashley Young.

Meanwhile, Memphis Depay, Bastian Schweinsteiger, Marouane Fellaini and Daley Blind have all been title winners overseas.

Van Gaal, preparing his team for the visit of leaders Leicester on Sunday, had claimed De Gea did not have the experience -- even though he had won the title in 2013 -- and also said Rooney and Carrick had won it "once, maybe more than once," when both have won it five times.

He said: "The players we are now playing are not used to being champions. I don't think [Matteo] Darmian is used to it. De Gea was never a champion.

"Rooney, Carrick have been champions once, maybe more than once.

"You have to see the situation where the club is. We have seen that we are in a transition period. When I was mentioned as the coach, it was also about that.

"Now we are fighting for the Champions League and still in the FA Cup. We have to fight for something, and we shall do it. Hopefully we can beat Leicester City."

Leicester will be crowned Premier League champions on Sunday if they win the match at Old Trafford.

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