United fans will hope Pep Guardiola’s ominous words don’t prove true.
David de Gea is not the only Manchester United player who will be watching his side’s Premier League opener from the stands.
While the United goalkeeper will not be considered for action until he either gets his head straight or joins Real Madrid, Bastian Schweinsteiger just needs to get match ready.
The German, signed for £14.4m three weeks ago, appeared on United’s pre-season tour to America but is not deemed up to the task of mixing it with the Tottenham midfield.
‘We have no injuries,’ van Gaal told MUTV today. ‘It’s unbelievable. But it’s not possible for Marcos Rojo to be match fit as he was the last player to come back.
‘Schweinsteiger came also at the last moment out of his holidays so I don’t think he is fit enough. We have to build the fitness he needs.’
Van Gaal was not overly impressed with the 31-year-old’s form in United’s pre-season jaunt to the USA.
Following a 3-1 win over San Jose Earthquakes, two weeks ago, the Dutchman criticised several of his players before saying Schweinsteiger ‘was also bad.
He expanded, ‘Players can play bad and certainly when you have only three days or six days training sessions in your legs and you have to play 45 minutes.
‘Everybody can say that it’s easy to step in but it is not easy. I think the first match Schweinsteiger played very well, and now he played bad.
‘But that is also a process and certainly when you only have one week of training.’
Adding to the fitness concerns over Schweinsteiger – a player who’s league appearances have steadily decreased over the past three seasons – were comments from Pep Guardiola, his former Bayern Munich boss, earlier this week.
Guardiola said, ‘When he does not have injury problems, I am completely convinced he will do very well at Manchester United.
‘He is a top, top player. Unfortunately, during the last three years was never in good condition.’
United supporters will be hoping Schweinsteiger, who today was given the club’s No.31 jersey, will be able to take on Aston Villa, next Friday, as two big Champions League playoffs, against Club Brugge, are coming up in late August.
