Football
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Man United need a holding midfielder, Louis van Gaal says

Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal has identified the holding midfield position as the key area he needs to strengthen in his squad in this summer's transfer window.

United have been strongly linked with moves for Borussia Dortmund midfielder Ilkay Gundogan and Bayern Munich's Bastian Schweinsteiger in recent weeks, with the deep lying midfield role a problem position that has troubled Van Gaal throughout his first season at Old Trafford.

Striker Wayne Rooney has been deployed in the role at times, as well as Ander Herrera and Daley Blind, but Van Gaal is keen to ensure he has the position filled by the time his side take to the field for the first game of next season.

"The No. 6 is one of the key roles," Van Gaal told Sunday newspaper reporters, as he referred to a defensive midfielder. "We have seen this season, with Michael Carrick, that he has spent a lot of time injured.

"I don't have another right-footed player who can play there so I have had to use Herrera there. He has done it very well, but it isn't his specialist position. I've also played Rooney there. It isn't his favourite position but I have had to use him in that role.

"So it is a key role but I can't discuss it further because then I show too much."

Van Gaal has also accepted that he will be expected to deliver sustained challenges for the top honours in the game in his second season at United, as he declined the chance to dampen down expectations ahead of the club's return to Champions League action in August.

"I know we have to fight for the title," he continued. "We are a top club so we have to behave like a top club. Expectations will be higher next season but the pressure I put on myself is higher than the pressure I get from the fans."

Van Gaal also heaped praise on his skipper Rooney, as he reflected on his eventful first season as United boss.

"Wayne is a very good captain," Van Gaal added. "I haven't had any disappointments this year with him and I think I made a very good decision making his captain. He is very good in the dressing room. He is always an example of the training pitch and when we play in matches, he always fights until the end.

"We have fought hard in 99 percent of our games. Right to the end. He has seen to that. Wayne has played a lot of positions for me without ever complaining."

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