The Colombia international joined the club on a season-long loan on transfer deadline day and the Dutchman insists the two forwards will complement each other at Old Trafford
Louis van Gaal insists that Radamel Falcao and Robin van Persie can play together at Manchester United.
Falcao joined the club in a deadline-day season-long loan deal, leading to speculation that Van Persie could be usurped by the Colombia international at Old Trafford.
However, Van Gaal believes the pair can complement each other, and foresees no problems with the potential partnership.
“I don’t think that Falcao interferes with Van Persie or that he interferes with Falcao,” he told reporters. “Falcao is a very good striker, I already said that when he came here in his first press conference.
“I like Van Persie as well – he is also a very good striker,” the boss continued. “Then we have Wayne Rooney and Adnan Januzaj, and we also have James Wilson. We have five players for the two striker positions and I have to choose.”
Januzaj hit a hat-trick for United’s Under-21 side against Sunderland in midweek and Van Gaal has been impressed with the Belgium international, though he insists he must knuckle down in order to earn a spot in the starting XI.
“He has to compete with very good players and that is the reason,” he added. “You cannot put 15 players in the squad, only 11, and with this system he has to compete with a lot of very strong strikers.
“When we play 4-3-3, for example, then he should have maybe more chances. It is always dependable on the system that we play. When I have changed my system, he has played.”
Van Gaal also revealed that Chris Smalling is set to return for United, while Luke Shaw made his United comeback against Sunderland.