Why Van Gaal dropped Falcao

Louis van Gaal has explained why he axed Radamel Falcao for Manchester United’s 1-0 defeat to Southampton yesterday.

The Colombian was the shock omission from the Red Devils’ match-day squad as the renowned marksman failed to even get a spot on the bench.

Youngster James Wilson was given the nod ahead of Falcao and the 28-year-old was forced to watch on from the stands.

Van Gaal elucidated: “As a coach you have to take decisions and you have to look at the composition of your team and your selection and you have to look at your game plan.

“Therefore I have to decide that he is out of the 18 because I have to change, for example, Shaw and Di Maria.

“You have to look also to the needs of your selection at that time.

“We have a lot of players who are coming back and [Falcao] has played the last five matches in a row.”