Radamel Falcao has opened up about his season on loan at Manchester United and what actually took place while playing under manager Louis van Gaal.
The Colombian joined the Premier League side on loan after recovering from an ACL injury which did not allow him to take part in the 2014 FIFA World Cup. However, the 30-year-old faced a lot of competition at United.
Falcao did have a good start for the side by assisting Robin van Persie in his first game and then scoring the winning goal against fellow Premier League side Everton, but things did not click for the former Atletico Madrid and Monaco hitman.
The Colombian made 29 appearances for the side with just 17 starts and scored four goals in the entire campaign. Van Gaal ultimately went with just one striker up front and that led to Wayne Rooney and Robin van Persie taking up the striking duties.
“It was complicated in Manchester. Everyone saw how there were situations which created instability, since I played on some days, not on others,” Falcao told El Tiempo.
“It was 60 minutes today, then 45, then 20 – that generates instability and sometimes you don’t know where you stand or what the footballing preferences of the coach are.
“It’s been difficult. I had been used to playing regularly. After the knee surgery [at Monaco] I went to Manchester United, who were starting a new process after 25 years with the same coach, with a lot of new players and I did not have the opportunity I expected.”
Falcao, however, remained in England and signed on loan for Chelsea under Jose Mourinho but injuries have plagued his season so far and the striker has only participated in eleven games all season scoring just once.
Rejected a move to China
It is expected that the Colombian will return to Monaco, his parent club, at the end of the season as Chelsea are not looking to make the loan deal a permanent one. The Colombian also stated that he rejected a couple of offers from China, opting to stay in England.
"It is true that I had two different offers in Chinese football but I stayed in England to give myself a chance," he said. "Going there would have been the easy way out, because it was a great offer. But I preferred to stay here and fight."
Falcao was considered as one of the deadliest goalscorers in European football during his time at FC Porto and Atletico Madrid but the anterior cruciate ligament injury he suffered at Ligue 1 club Monaco certainly has played part in his decline as a striker.
