Angel Di Maria had an eventful Tuesday night.
The Paris Saint-Germain star was booed as he made his way off the team bus upon his return to Old Trafford, every touch of the ball was jeered by the supporters he used to call his own and then he set up two goals against his former side.
Di Maria remains an unpopular figure at Manchester United and sandwiched between his assists was an incident in which a bottle of beer was thrown at him as he prepared to take a corner kick.
The Argentine clearly enjoyed silencing the United fans as he celebrated setting up the game’s opening goal by shouting obscenities at the home supporters.
Speaking about Old Trafford’s reaction to his return, Di Maria explained that he has never expressed any animosity towards United supporters.
“It was difficult from the opening minute but I knew this was going to happen,” Di Maria told Cadena Cope radio, via ESPN.
Angel Di Maria had the last laugh tonight https://t.co/RzhTGo4fnb
— SportsJOE (@SportsJOEdotie) February 12, 2019
“But I’ve said it in the past and I reiterate it, I never spoke badly of the people here and of this club. These are things that happen and people took it badly. I only had problems with the coach [Louis van Gaal] here.”
Di Maria moved to United for a then-club record fee of £59.7 million in 2014 but flattered to deceive and lasted just one season before his switch to PSG.
Before setting up both Presnel Kimpembe and Kylian Mbappe on Tuesday, Di Maria was involved in an incident with ex-teammate Ashley Young which saw the English full-back shoulder charge Di Maria off the pitch but the shove did not result in a second yellow card for Young.
“There was no need to push him [Di Maria] into the fence,” PSG manager Thomas Tuchel told reporters. “I am happy there was no big injury. He [Di Maria] was a bit nervous and needed to be calmer in the first half. He had a hard time in the first half, the guy is very competitive. If you tease him, it does not make him weaker. I thought he had a good relationship with the fans. In the end he did well.”
