Wayne Rooney was praised for his accomplishments during the preseason by new Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal. But the Dutchman warned that physical fitness and conditioning would be a major factor in who makes his starting XI when United face Swansea City in their Premier League season opener on Aug. 16.
Van Gaal said he always admired Rooney when he managed against him and that he is equally impressed with the four goals the Man United striker has scored in his three preseason appearances.
"He is always working very hard, has a high level and can make goals. He did that in America, four goal in his first three matches is not so bad I think!" Van Gaal told the Daily Mirror in a recent interview.
But Van Gaal added: "'We have to wait and see, we are now in the beginning of the preparation. The physical training will go on before our first league match."
That comment could be a veiled reference to the fact that in seasons' past Rooney's fitness has fluctuated and occasionally affected his performance, a time-to-time gripe of former Man United legendary manager Sir Alex Ferguson.
Now Van Gaal must find a way to get Rooney and his Netherlands countryman Robin van Persie to co-exist up front in the United attack, a dilemma that neither Sir Alex nor his successor at Old Trafford, David Moyes, seemed able to do in full.
- Blind flattered by United, Barcelona links
- Okwonga: Van Gaal looks to address depth
- Neville: Man United are favourites in Prem
Van Persie is still on leave as part of a post-World Cup break from his Netherlands side that reached the tournament semifinals in Brazil. But it seems likely that Van Gaal -- who has both the people skills to work with individual players and the tactical sense to prepare teams for any opponents -- might be the ideal candidate to get Rooney and Van Persie to gel.
"Every system has been tried before in football. It's how you prepare your team to do against the system of the opponents, that is the thing that always makes the difference."