Manchester United’s Adnan Januzaj (L) celebrates with teammate Luke Shaw after scoring a goal during an English Premier League match in Birmingham, on August 14, 2015. He was sent on a season-long loan to Borussia Dortmund. PHOTO/AFP
MANCHESTER, November 23- Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal concedes it may have been a bad idea to allow Adnan Januzaj to join Borussia Dortmund on a season-long loan.
The 20-year-old left United on transfer deadline day and followed the likes of fellow attackers Javier Hernandez and Robin van Persie out of Old Trafford.
But now, following injury and illness to Anthony Martial and Wayne Rooney respectively, the Red Devils look short of fire-power up front, with Memphis Depay being deployed in an unfamiliar striker role during the 2-1 win against Watford on Saturday.
Januzaj, meanwhile, has failed to start a game in the Bundesliga to date for Thomas Tuchel’s side.
And Van Gaal admitted: “I said in advance that it’s a big risk, because you have to compete with other players of a high level and that’s not easy.
“At a club like Borussia Dortmund, all the players are also of a certain level. It’s the same as at Manchester United. He has to compete with higher-level players.
“I want him to play all the matches, and that’s why I wanted to play him in the Premier League, but he chose Borussia Dortmund.
“We have to wait and see [if it’s a good move] because now he doesn’t play. I am certain he has the talent to play but he has to learn a lot of things. Talent is important, but so is the character to develop your talent. And he can learn that.”
