Louis van Gaal on Angel Di Maria's struggles: 'The first season is always difficult'

Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal still expects Angel Di Maria to return to top form, despite replacing him at the interval of Saturday's 2-0 win versus Sunderland on Saturday.

The first half marked the latest in a long string of performances where Di Maria failed to make an impact on the pitch, highlighted by a moment in the 45th minute where he was unable to link up with Radamel Falcao as United surged forward. Adnan Januzaj was subsequently brought on for Di Maria.

However, Van Gaal insists that Di Maria is among a number of players struggling to settle in their first season at Old Trafford and that his form will improve over time.

"It counts for all the players that we have bought, the first season is always difficult," Van Gaal said, according to the Guardian. 

"I have explained that in the press conference after the match. You can see it to every players we have bought: [Luke] Shaw, [Daley] Blind, [Ander] Herrera, Falcao and also Di Maria. For me it is not a big surprise, it is more a big surprise when [if] he [had] adapted as quickly as possible.

"In the Netherlands, Spain and Germany I had the same experience with players. We have to give him time as I have already said, not just for him but to all the other players - we shall wait and see."

Wayne Rooney also defended Di Maria's sketchy performance against Sunderland, describing the match as "just one of those days that every footballer has."