Louis van Gaal on Wayne Rooney Being the Only Guaranteed Starter

Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal has revealed that only captain Wayne Rooney is guaranteed a place in the starting XI ahead of their Premier League clash against Leicester City on Sunday.

He also added that every player knows that they have to fight for their place in the team. The Dutchman has a host of options when it comes to strikers, but has no favourites and admits he will have to choose who starts.

"I don't think any player is fixed, only the captain has more privileges. No other player has any privileges and every player knows that," van Gaal said, as quoted on ESPN

"I don't think that Falcao interferes with Van Persie or Van Persie interferes with Falcao. I think Falcao is a very good striker. I like Van Persie also; he is also a very good striker.

" We also have Rooney, (Adnan) Januzaj and (James) Wilson. We have five players for the two strikers positions and I have to choose," the United boss added, as quoted by Daily Mail.

The former Bayern Munich manager also added goalkeeper David de Gea to the guaranteed starter list alongside the captain. The manager also had words of praise for youngster Tyler Blackett and Juan Mata.

"There are, always in a team, players who you put in a line-up. My captain shall always play and normally a goalkeeper also so that is not a surprise. Blackett is maybe a surprise that he plays all the games but he is doing very well. Mata is a very good player," he said.

Van Gaal is also delighted with the progress made by the team on the injury front. Chris Smalling has returned from injury to give the defense a boost.

"I have only six injuries now so it is going good. Smalling is back," the Old Trafford boss concluded.