Van Gaal Admits Man United Board Were Reluctant To Sign Schweinsteiger

Manchester United boss Louis van Gaal has admitted he had to convince the Manchester United board to sanction transfer of Bastian Schweinsteiger from Bayern Munich.

World cup winner Schweinsteiger spent 17 years with the Bundesliga giants, winning eight league titles, the Champions League in 2013 and a FIFA Club World Cup, before joining Manchester United in July.

Injuries have blighted German world cup winner’s time in England, and he has missed United’s last seven games in all competitions with a knee problem, but Van Gaal believes a consistent run in the side would allow him to get back to his best form.

“I had to convince the board to buy him, because he’s a very good player and he always gives a team more balance,” the manager said.

“Manchester United has bought him even though he is now 31. Bastian has been unlucky because he picked up an injury at a time that he was playing very well — he was improving.

“He played very well at Wolfsburg and then began to reach the level he showed at Munich — I think he can (get back to that level).”