Van Gaal explains Chicharito departure

Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal says that the does not want too much competition among players, explaining why he sanctioned the sale of striker Javier Hernandez.

The Red Devils have been struggling for goals at times this season, making it ironic that Chicharito, who wasn't considered prolific enough by the Dutchman, is banging them in over in Germany.

The Mexican forward has bagged 17 goals in his last 14 appearances for Leverkusen while United have only managed 10 in as many matches, but van Gaal explained why he let the 27-year-old walk away from Old Trafford.

"I don't believe too much in competition," van Gaal said. "I believe in trust and confidence. Maybe that is wrong but I have done it all my life. I give trust to the players.

"We could have kept all the strikers but then there would have been a lot of strikers in the tribune. They are not happy then. They want to go away. It is the story of Hernandez, for example. He wants to play. I can imagine that he can't always play in this world.

"There are now players in my selection who want to play. They cannot play because I choose another player. That is always like that. But too many strikers of high quality for the same position is too much pressure.

"The pressure is from the other strikers and who is playing, who is sitting on the bench and who is sitting in the tribune. Then you have a lot of pressure more for the strikers' position. Now I have given confidence to the players to play there."