Man United chief Van Gaal confirms De Gea will miss Villa clash
Louis van Gaal has confirmed David de Gea is still not mentally fit enough to play for Manchester United.
De Gea sat out United's season-opening win against Tottenham last week. Van Gaal felt he was not able to focus because of speculation linking him with a move to Real Madrid.
And Van Gaal has confirmed the goalkeeper will not feature in the club's second game of the campaign against Aston Villa on Friday night..
"No, it's the same situation," the United manager said when asked if De Gea would be in the squad for the Villa game.
United are refusing to sell De Gea unless they get Sergio Ramos in return or Madrid break the world-record fee for a goalkeeper (£32.6million).
Senior sources at Old Trafford insist they are happy for the 24-year-old to run down his contract, and Van Gaal is okay with the idea that the Spaniard will not play for him until the transfer window shuts.
"I have said that already," Van Gaal said.
Sergio Romero deputised for De Gea in the 1-0 win over Spurs and the Argentina goalkeeper looks set to play at Villa Park.
"Normally, yes," was the Dutchman's terse reply when asked if Romero would keep his place.
Another person who looks set to stay at United is Adnan Januzaj.
The Belgian was linked with a move to Sunderland after being left out of the match day squad for the Spurs game.
When quizzed on whether he would consider letting Januzaj leave on loan, Van Gaal replied: "He is still not for sale."
Januzaj broke into the United team during David Moyes' only year in charge, but has started just seven league games under the Scot's successor.
Van Gaal insists he is happy with the player, however.
He added: "I have 28 players and I have to select every week, every three days.
"Last week I choose our players. He (Januzaj) is doing his best.
"All the players are, I don't have any complaints."
The build-up to the Villa match was overshadowed by some strong words on Van Gaal from his former player Hristo Stoichkov.
The Bulgarian clashed with Van Gaal during the 64-year-old's first spell at Barcelona and he decided to sell the former striker to CSKA Sofia.
Seventeen years on, the pain is still raw for Stoichkov, who branded Van Gaal a "mediocre" manager who "destroys" players and clubs during an interview on Spanish radio this week.
Van Gaal dismissed Stoichkov's barb at his pre-match press conference on Thursday.
He said: "It is not bothering me. I have as a manager, I have to decide a lot of things. He is one of the players I sent away and that is why he is doing that."
Stoichkov is not the only player Van Gaal has fallen out with during his managerial career.
The Dutchman clashed with Giovanni and Rivaldo at the Nou Camp and he also fell out with striker Luca Toni during his time at Bayern Munich.
"They (the critics) can comment but it is not always the truth what they have commented," he added. "I'm used to that.
"There are more players who are very highly speaking about me than I have players that are saying the things that Toni or Stoichkov are saying."
Van Gaal has no new injury concerns ahead of the trip to the Midlands.
Marouane Fellaini is suspended, Phil Jones is out with thrombosis and Marcos Rojo is still lacking match fitness.
Van Gaal is looking to put pressure on United's rivals by winning at Villa Park.
The Dutchman feels an improvement in away form will be vital to the club's chances of challenging for the title.
"The key for success this season is improving away matches," said Van Gaal, who won just six times away last term.
"We were one of the best last season at home, third.
"I want to create a fortress at Old Trafford, we did that but away we have to improve and we can improve because last year we were not good."
