Louis van Gaal could dip into the January transfer window to bring his United squad up to full fighting strength for the campaign run in in 2016.
The Reds boss has overseen a wholesale rebuild of the United squad he inherited from sacked boss David Moyes.
The 64-year-old has trimmed the numbers down and the huge operation of comings and goings has seen £250m spent over two summers since his arrival in July 2013 but now believes he’s still one player short of the ideal squad size.
Van Gaal’s masterplan to develop a new look United side saw a host players leave Old Trafford either permanently or on loan including the likes of Danny Welbeck, Darren Fletcher, Tom Cleverley, Nani and Shinji Kagawa in his first season in charge. He brought in six new faces.
This season more have departed including last summer’s new faces Angel di Maria and Radamel Falcao plus Robin van Persie, Javier Hernandez and Adnan Januzaj on loan
It has left Van Gaal with a squad of 24 seniors. But is it too small for a club expected to fight for four trophies in a demanding nine months?
“No it is not otherwise I would have had a bigger squad,” says Van Gaal.“I believe in smaller squads because you need perspective otherwise the motivation is a doubt.
"I have always preferred small selections (squads). I think I have the smallest selection in the Premier League. Last season we had 24 players.
"We sold 15 players and bought five players. This year we have sold again or have loaned players out. Ten players have gone and only six players have been bought.
“I think 22 players and three goalkeepers is enough so I am still one short.”Van Gaal’s streamlined squad has been helped by a better injury situation this term.
Twelve months ago he was hit by a crisis with players dropping like nine pins and at one stage he had to bring a list to one of his press conferences in of players out to remind him of the names on a debilitating casualty list.
But Van Gaal takes part responsibility for that medical handicap and points out he jettisoned players who couldn’t cope with his even his toned down demands.
“That was my fault. I was training them harder but they were not used to training like that,” he says.
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