Van Gaal doesn't dislike Brazilians, says Man United's Andreas Pereira

Posted Tuesday, September 08, 2015 by ESPN

Manchester United youngster Andreas Pereira has come out against accusations that United boss Louis van Gaal doesn't like Brazilian players.

The 19-year-old, who has featured for the Selecao's youth teams, addressed long-held beliefs in Brazil that Louis van Gaal is hard on his Brazilian charges, as exhibited by his problems with Rivaldo during their spell at Barcelona, and most recently with Rafael da Silva at Manchester United, who claimed Van Gaal didn't like him.

However Pereira, who is on duty with Brazil's Olympic team ahead of a friendly with France, told gathered media he hasn't reason to believe the rumours about Van Gaal, who recently named him to United's Champions League squad list.

"My relationship with him is normal, just like all the players. I don't think he had this business with Brazilians, no," the 2015 Under-20 World Cup runner-up said on Monday.

"Everyone says that he sends Brazilians away, it's not so. He treats me normal and equal to everyone. I don't think he has anything against Brazilians.

"Everyone can say what they want, but with me it's going good."

Pereira's showings in the Under-20 World Cup in New Zealand and in United's preseason friendlies helped him turn the Dutch manager's head over the summer, enough that he was rewarded with a place on the Old Trafford club's star-studded roster, and a path toward playing time, for the 2014-15 season.

"The World Cup helped a lot. When I returned [to United], the manager like it a lot. For me, it was a great preseason, I played well in games, and participated in the majority," Pereira said.

"The manager said he didn't want me to be loaned. He said I had to have patience, that I had to continue working hard, that he would give me an opportunity."