Louis van Gaal defends under-fire executive Ed Woodward after Manchester United miss out on Pedro

Case for the defence: Van Gaal stands up for Woodward
James Benge21 August 2015

Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal has stood up for under-fire club executive Ed Woodward after United lost out to Chelsea for Pedro.

The club’s executive vice-chairman has received much of the blame for allowing the champions to steal a march on his side in the hunt for the winger.

It has been one of several occasions when United’s senior negotiator has been seen to have missed the boat on transfer targets, including in moves for Cesc Fabregas and Sergio Ramos.

Van Gaal rushed to defend the Old Trafford chief, saying that he had a strong relationship with Woodward.

“I have the idea that you want to separate Ed Woodward from me,” the manager said. “Never. Every day I am updated by him. I trust him.

“I don’t want to let my strategy with players be known. When I say something about a player you put it in another context.”

The United manager told reporters that he had not been interested in the Barcelona winger, in spite of reports claiming that the winger had agreed terms at Old Trafford. However Van Gaal did accept that the club were interested in a player like the Spanish winger.

“I cannot deny that Pedro fits in my profile, he is fast and creative. But then you put it in another perspective and he’s coming to Manchester United. I have never said that.”

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