PSV Eindhoven coach Phillip Cocu is convinced Memphis Depay will be a success for Manchester United this season.
United beat a host of Europe's top clubs -- including Paris Saint-Germain -- to Depay's signature in May, but despite starring against Club Brugge in the Champions League playoffs, the 21-year-old is yet to score in the Premier League.
Louis van Gaal substituted the winger at half-time during United's 3-1 win over Liverpool on Saturday because the Dutch manager felt his compatriot gave the ball away too much.
Cocu got the best out of Depay last season as the Netherlands international scored 22 goals to lead PSV to the Eredivisie title, and the coach is sure the forward will soon rediscover find his goalscoring touch.
"It's normal you need some time to grow, you need a lot of games," the PSV boss said on the eve of his team's Champions League game against United at the Philips Stadion.
"Physically he's very strong and he's a quick learner also. And I'm sure when he gets some time he'll get it very fast. He will bring goals. He's a very vertical player who always likes to play towards the goal. Not only will he score goals, he has good vision.
"He will have some ups and downs. I'm sure when he's been playing a few months, I'm convinced he'll get better and better."
Depay is not the only familiar face Cocu will encounter when the two teams meet on Tuesday night in Eindhoven, as the coach knows Van Gaal well having worked with the experienced manager during his two spells at Barcelona.
Van Gaal also made Cocu Netherlands captain during his first stint as Oranje coach, and Cocu feels a lot of warmth for the 64-year-old having recently described the former Ajax and Bayern Munich boss as a "great coach."
But Van Gaal has not given the 44-year-old former midfielder many tips on management, with Cocu saying: "We didn't have a lot of contact. We were together with the national team and then Barcelona.
"He made me a better player because of his tactical skills and the way he worked with the team, but afterwards when I stopped playing, as coaches we met sometimes but we didn't speak a lot [about] how we worked [or] give advice."
Cocu admits some of Van Gaal's methods are not to everyone's liking, adding: "It's not so difficult [to play for Van Gaal] if you are open to it, if you are convinced that his way is the best way for the team. The only differences are between the players. Some are open and learn quickly, others like to play on their intuition."