Louis van Gaal has insisted he did not humiliate Radamel Falcao by making him play for Manchester United's under-21 team this week
The Colombian striker, who has only started one of United's last four games, was left on the bench in Monday's FA Cup defeat by Arsenal.
But one of the most expensive players in football history then figured for United's under-21s against Tottenham's youngsters the following day - when Van Gaal admitted the on-loan forward did not play well.
Van Gaal did at least praise Falcao for his attitude, arguing that he needed match practice and that it is harder for him to make an impact at United than at a lesser club because of competition for places from other attackers.
"I let my players play in the second squad," Van Gaal said. "I read in a lot of papers that it is a humiliation. I don't think so.
"It is a professional attitude, of the manager, the management, the club, but especially of the player. Not only Falcao has played, also [Victor] Valdes and Rafa da Silva. Rafa da Silva played a very good match and scored a very good goal. Because of that, he can grow his confidence.
"That is a lower level and they can play more than 70 minutes. That is not normal in every training session. Every player needs match rhythm. We pay a lot for the players so it is normal they play football for us and that can be for the second team.
"Every player who does not play [in the first team] has to play sometimes. He needed to play more minutes in the second team. Falcao didn't play the best match in the second team but he tried to do his utmost best. More I cannot ask from players."
Van Gaal said it is impossible to know precisely why Falcao, who scored 155 goals in 200 games for Porto, Atletico Madrid and Monaco, has mustered only four in 20 appearances for United.
"We are looking for the solution for him but you never can know that," he added. "A lot of aspects you cannot control as a manager, neither as a player. That is also the beauty of the footballing world. You can give fantastic performances in another country but not in the country where you are playing football.
"That is not the first example and it shall not be the last example. A lot of players need more time to adapt to the new situation, to the new culture, to the higher rhythm of the English game, to a lot of aspects.
"You can easily write 'he cannot play football' but I cannot say that and I don't want to say that. Falcao, and also all the other players, are working very hard and I am very pleased with their attitude.
Captain Wayne Rooney has found goal scoring form since his return to the forward line and Van Gaal used that to illustrate the problems a player like Falcao can have when a rival is excelling.
"In a club like Man United it is more difficult than in a minor club," he explained. "He has his competitors. Now Wayne is playing there and Wayne is scoring. You have to compare players with each other but you need also luck and you need a lot of luck when you are a striker because you are more dependent on your other players and everyone knows that."
Source: espn.co.uk
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