Wednesday 18 February 2015 21:10, UK
Former Manchester United striker Louis Saha has backed misfiring Radamel Falcao and insists the Colombian has the quality to come good at Old Trafford.
Falcao, currently on a season-long loan from Monaco that has cost United £6m, has scored just four goals in 19 appearances and completed 90 minutes only four times.
He has fallen under increasing criticism and manager Louis van Gaal admitted last month that the former Atletico Madrid and Porto striker was yet to prove himself.
But Saha, who scored 42 times in over four years with United, insists he has “no doubts” that Falcao can become a prolific Premier League goalscorer.
"I have sympathy for Falcao – I know how hard it is to be a striker,” Saha said.
“There is always a lot of competition at Manchester United. It’s a battle but I have no doubts about him. He has the quality to do a great job there.
"Falcao is under pressure because of his contract and because of the amount of money that’s involved.
"And when you are in a different formation or under different management then you have to adapt. It could take three months, six months or maybe even a year before you understand it – it happens even to the best players.”
Van Gaal has come under scrutiny himself for playing a direct style of football, recently becoming embroiled in a row with West Ham boss Sam Allardyce over whose was the more ‘long-ball’ team.
But Saha also defended the Dutch manager, insisting he "understands why United are playing in that way".
Saha said: "This season is all about winning games. The philosophy of the manager is to look at it at the end of the season. At the moment it is about results."
