Angel Di Maria spoke earlier in the week about his struggles to settle at new teams and that he was determined to get better.
After a couple of poor displays, Di Maria looked bereft of confidence against Sunderland was brought off at half-time with the game poised at 0-0.
It was a brave call from Louis van Gaal to bring off a player capable of moments of magic but the decision was justified given Adnan Januzaj‘s excellent second half performance.
Di Maria scored three goals in his opening four games with United but hasn’t scored a league goal since October, only managing a strike against Yeovil back in January.
Fans are growing frustrated given Di Maria’s £59.7m valuation but most want to see him in the position in which he starred for Real Madrid last season.
Di Maria is a midfielder. Debate over.
— ManUtd fan (@99_manutd) February 28, 2015
Di Maria WILL settle and we will see that phenomenal player which we've seen at Real Madrid. Form is temporary… #mufc
— Amarpreet Singh (@Amarpreet_87) February 28, 2015
Thought Di Maria wasn't bad for first 30 minutes. All downhill after that. Wonder whether if it's all psychological.
— Saraon (@dsaraon) February 28, 2015
Can people judge Di Maria when he's playing in his preferred position?
— Jason Hope (@iamjasonhope) February 28, 2015
No words for Di Maria's performance..
— TikiTactic (@TikiTactic) February 28, 2015
The Argentine’s game was summed up right on half-time when he burst through and had an easy pass to Ashley Young on the left hand side.
It could have been the move that put United ahead but instead Di Maria tried a more difficult pass to Radamel Falcao which ran through to the goalkeeper. It didn’t cost the home side in the end but proved that Di Maria is currently not the same player who looked a world beater back in September.