Saturday 17 January 2015 10:38, UK
Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal has urged striker Radamel Falcao to "prove himself" and earn a recall to the side.
Falcao was dropped from the squad for Sunday's 1-0 defeat to Southampton at Old Trafford, prompting speculation United will not take up the option to sign the 28-year-old Colombian for £43.5m when his season-loan long expires.
With Robin van Persie, Wayne Rooney and James Wilson all pushing for roles in attack, Van Gaal is adamant Falcao will be treated no differently to any other player, regardless of his reputation as a world-class finisher.
When asked about the state of his relationship with Falcao, the Dutchman said: "It's not for you. It's not for the media. It's between a player and his manager. I'm sorry.
If a player cost £95m or £5,000, there is no difference for me. It's difficult to understand for you.
"He has to prove himself, we have agreed. We have made this deal and everything is clear. It is not the end of the year so he has a chance for that.
"For the manager, it is about the quality of the training sessions, the quality in his performances and in matches. You have a gameplan and I have already explained after the match against Southampton. It is always the same explanation.
"If a player cost £95m or £5,000, there is no difference for me. It's difficult to understand for you, I believe because it's the second question or the third question but it's like that. You have to prove yourself.
"A player of £95m has to prove himself also. If I'm not like that, maybe he'll have less motivation. So I have to be like that. It's difficult for the outside world.
"I said in the beginning, we want to be champion but then you have to win matches against Southampton and Aston Villa away. When we're not doing that, we can't be champions.
"Our goal was to start the process and be in the first four because we want to play in the Champions League. That's still our goal."
Falcao has netted three times in 13 appearances for United.
