Adnan Januzaj has admitted the systems used by Louis van Gaal this season at Manchester United have made it on occasion “more difficult for me to play”, the 19-year-old having been limited to only five league starts under the Dutchman.
The last of these came in Saturday’s 3-1 win over Leicester City at Old Trafford when Januzaj impressed in a wide position. This was the first time the Belgian had been named in the XI for a Premier League match since 8 November.
Asked if he felt unfortunate that Van Gaal’s formations do not always accommodate attacking wide players, Januzaj said: “Yes, the system can make it more difficult for me to play there but I have to keep working. That is what I am doing in training every day, as I want to get more games this season.”
Van Gaal has often deployed a 3-5-2 shape that can ask wide players to operate as wing-backs. But Januzaj said: “I’m not really a wing-back. It’s harder for me because there is more defending involved and I’m not really a defender.”
Regarding what position he would like to play in the long term, Januzaj said: “It depends on how my football evolves. My favourite position is as a No10 or a winger. There are lots of players here and I can play in different roles – it’s just a case of taking my opportunities.
“I’ve been a No10 since I was young and I can play there more easily but I know I can also play as a winger.”
Januzaj was not named in the 18-man squad for United’s FA Cup fourth-round replay with Cambridge United on Tuesday evening at Old Trafford.
