Louis van Gaal is 'stubborn', says former Man Utd defender Paul Parker

Anthony Martial's form under Louis van Gaal at Man Utd is a concern for Paul Parker

​Former Manchester United defender Paul Parker has issued a strong critique of Louis van Gaal, describing the manager as "incredibly stubborn".

The former Old Trafford and England right-back strenuously questioned Van Gaal's man-management skills and says he is concerned for the squad's younger players such as Anthony Martial and Memphis Depay.

Parker is not the first ex-United player to criticise Van Gaal, with Paul Scholes suggesting Martial does not look bothered about scoring goals and stating he would not want to play in the Dutchman's team.
Roy Keane singled out Wayne Rooney as being "awful", but Parker feels the problems lie with a manager who "puts the fear of God into players".
"I look at Anthony Martial and worry for him," wrote Parker. "He looks like a boy who doesn't smile anymore. He doesn't look like he's enjoying himself.
"The form Memphis Depay is showing hasn't just happened because he's playing in the Premier League. That boy probably feels like a scapegoat. He's in a country relatively close to where he's from, but feeling a million miles away.

Memphis Depay's form at Manchester United has been disappointing

"Ander Herrera is hugely popular with the fans because he makes things happen. Everyone loves to see players like that, but he's barely playing and is probably unsettled. These players need freedom; they need to enjoy themselves.
"Looking further back, why did Angel Di Maria - arguably Real Madrid's best player before he left them - start off great at United after a very good World Cup, then drop his performance by about 80 per cent? It was nothing to do with his house being broken into. You can deal with that.
"Van Gaal puts the fear of God into players. It has to be his way. He selfishly manages the team. And no one enjoys it."

Van Gaal puts the fear of God into players. It has to be his way. He selfishly manages the team. And no one enjoys it.

Paul Parker

Parker, who made over 140 first-team appearances for United between 1991 and 1996, also feels Van Gaal needs to improve as a man manager and learn to be more flexible with his players.
"He may be a successful manager, but he must learn - even at his age - to become a good man manager," added Parker. "At the moment, we have to say he's not man managing that team.
"All those players he's got are not bad players, and they've not played negative football all their lives.
"He's being incredibly stubborn. Any player who doesn't conform to what he wants is chopped. He looks for a player who's made a mistake, then drops them for the next game."