Radamel Falcao played for the U-21s earlier this week after failing to feature in either of United’s last two games.

The press claimed this was humiliating for the Colombian superstar, but Louis van Gaal has dismissed this suggestion.

I have 25 players and all of the players can play the next game. I have to maintain the rhythm of the game with every player. I have read about the ‘big humiliation’ for Falcao, but also Valdes was playing and Rafael as well. Michael Carrick has also played for the second team this season. That shows the professional attitude of the player but also the management of the club. It is not a humiliation, it is a professional attitude. In a training session, you never reach the intensity of 90 minutes. Of course, the second team level is lower but that is also good that a player from the first team is playing much more minutes at a lower level, because then he can build up his confidence.