Van Persie can be Manchester United captain

• Posted on June 16, 2014June 16, 2014
• by Nana Kwesi Coomson
• Comment

Australia assistant coach Ante Milicic believes Robin van Persie could be ideal as Louis van Gaal’s captain at Manchester United.

The Oranje registered the most eye-catching result of the World Cup so far by destroying holders Spain 5-1 in Salvador on Friday and they are now expected to swat aside Ange Postecoglou’s underdogs, who were unfortunate not get a draw in a 3-1 loss to Chile later that day.

Last month Van Gaal was confirmed as Manchester United’s new manager and a huge challenge awaits the 62-year-old as he attempts to revive the fortunes of the Old Trafford club next season.

But any suggestions the former Ajax, Barcelona and Bayern Munich boss could be distracted by his next assignment were quashed as the razor-sharp Dutch tore the reigning champions apart at the Arena Fonte Nova.

The strength of the Netherlands’ team spirit was evident when captain Van Persie sprinted to the half-way line to high-five his coach after scoring the equaliser that sparked La Roja’s unexpected demise.

HIGH FIVE | Van Persie celebrates with Van Gaal before the rout of Spain begins

And Milicic believes the former Arsenal centre-forward would make an obvious choice to wear the armband at Old Trafford following Nemanja Vidic’s departure to Inter.

“You know one thing, that a man with that kind of experience and that kind of professionalism has been in similar situations in football and he’s got enough experience to deal with those situations,” the Socceroos assistant coach told Goal when quizzed on Van Gaal’s mindset ahead of his move this summer.

“It could work both ways. Maybe he does have one eye on his Manchester United job. Or maybe now his future is sorted for after the World Cup he can spend even more time on the Dutch national team.

“Straight off the top of your head, you can think, look Van Persie’s there, he’s got him as the captain of his team in Holland, he could possibly be the new captain now at Man United. So there’s already some kind of a link going on there. “

Milicic does not believe the Netherlands squad will be distracted by their coach’s impending departure to United, who have already been linked with the likes of Feyenood centre-back Bruno Martins Indi and full-back Daley Blind as they seek to replace Rio Ferdinand and Vidic this summer.

“These are all big players that are all professional,” he said of the Dutch camp.

“And also you know as one of those younger defenders, they could be someone that he’s [Van Gaal] looking to bring. They’ve lost two high profile ones in the European summer. 

“There’s a lot of different ways the players could look at it but I don’t think they’ll be worried too much about what the manager’s doing after the World Cup, they’ll be focusing on his instructions for the present.”

With the Dutch expected to dominate possession against the Socceroos, it remains to be seen if the Netherlands will alter the reactive formation that proved so successful against Spain. 

Regardless of how their opponents line up at Estadio Beira-Rio, Milicic knows Australia must brace themselves for another massive test on world football’s biggest stage.

“We know that (Van Gaal) is very experienced and quite adaptable with different formations, whether that be 3-5-2, every kid in Holland knows how to play 4-3-3, which we as Australians know well,” he said.

“We all know about the class they have going forward. They’re a great footballing nation with high expectations.”

By Iain Strachan