LVG warns players

MANCHESTER. — Louis van Gaal has warned some of his players they face a “rough summer” as he shakes up Manchester United’s squad.

Van Gaal admits he needs to improve his squad if United are to challenge for the Premier League title next season and make an impact on their return to the Champions League.

Speaking at United’s Player of the Year awards at Old Trafford on Tuesday night, Van Gaal, who has already made Mepmphis Depay his first signing, said: “It’s always like that.

“I don’t think you have to keep the whole selection (squad), because when you purchase other players, you get another stimulus in the group also, and that you need.

“I think also our selection is unbalanced. We have managed to be fourth in the league, but we have to manage to be the champions.

“That is why we have to take care of the balance of the selection, but also to improve our selection, because we want to be champions.

“So it shall be a rough summer for a lot of players, but I think a top club like Manchester United has to do that.

“I have to say first of all I am impressed by the attitude and motivation of the player, because I have always seen a fighting spirit.

“Maybe in the game against Everton (a 3-0 defeat) it was a little bit less, but normally we were always fighting to the end.

“Also in training sessions they were there — always. So I have to give a lot of credit to the players because it was not an easy season.”

Van Gaal said goalkeeper David De Gea had impressed him the most this season, despite the fact the Spaniard is ready to reject United’s contract offer to join Real Madrid this summer.

“Which player has impressed me the most?” said Van Gaal.

“I think he is enormously popular with the fans, so I think David De Gea.

“In the beginning of the season, as a manager, I observed him, I analysed him and I have seen his progress in the season and it has been fantastic development of him.

“As a manager you look from that perspective, and that’s why I think David De Gea has impressed me the most, because of his development.”

But Van Gaal made no mention of any progress in United’s attempts to persuade De Gea to stay.

De Gea sidestepped calls from fans about his future as he picked up both Manchester United’s player of the year awards — for the second season running.

Real Madrid-target De Gea — who has a year left on his current deal — is stalling on the offer of a new contract from United.

But that did not stop the Spanish goalkeeper from being voted United’s player of the season by both the fans’ and his team-mates.

As he collected his trophies at the awards ceremony at Old Trafford dinner guests pleaded with him to stay.

But De Gea said: “I want to say thank you to the fans — they are the best in the world. I try to improve in every training session. I feel really good. I want to say thank you to my team-mates. They have been fantastic this season. I think we have a very good dressing room. I love them. Thank you very much.”

Asked to pick his favourite save, De Gea, who revealed he voted for Spanish pal Juan Mata, added. “It is difficult to pick one. I think for a goalkeeper any save is important to help the team.”

De Gea’s girlfriend Spanish pop star Edurne Garcia — who is understood to be keen for him to return to Madrid — did not attend because she was preparing for the Eurovision Song Contest.

Skipper Wayne Rooney, who revealed he voted for Ashley Young, said: “David’s been excellent this season — he’s saved us a lot of points.”

Juan Mata won United’s goal of the season award for the second of his double in the 2-1 win over bitter rivals Liverpool at Anfield.

Andreas Pereira won the under 21s player of the year award while Axel Tuanzebe won the under 18s prize. — The Daily Express.