Manchester United big names and big price-tags won’t impress Louis van Gaal admits Daley Blind

Daley Blind has warned his Manchester United team-mates that reputations and price-tags count for nothing under ruthless boss Louis van Gaal,according to the Daily Mirror.

After £43.2million striker Radamel Falcao was axed from the match-day squad by Van Gaal for the 1-0 defeat to Southampton, Blind said all the United boss was interested in was form and fitness.

Blind has played under Van Gaal previously for Holland and the midfielder, who made his return in Sunday’s match after two months out injured, said every player faces a fight to prove himself under the Dutchman.

“The price-tags in the team are expensive and the manager has said that as well, so you have to train, every day, very hard to show yourself and show you really want to play,” said Blind.

“We are one team, we have to do it with each other – whatever 11 the coach chooses. We are supporting each other and it feels like a really great team.”

Van Gaal’s shock decision to drop Colombia marksman Falcao, who is on a season-long loan from French side Monaco, provided conclusive proof the Old Trafford giants’ new boss does not care if he bruises egos when it comes to selecting his teams.

Former United boss Sir Alex Ferguson was the same, famously dropping Wayne Rooney from the second leg of a last 16 Champions League tie at Old Trafford in 2013 – the Scot’s final season in charge.

There seems little chance of United taking up the option to make Falcao’s deal permanent at the end of his season-long loan, with Van Gaal not convinced of his enduring value.

Falcao turns 29 next month, there would be little resale value on him should United make him their own player and his omission from Sunday’s squad proved he is not uppermost in Van Gaal’s thinking.

M.D