---
title: "van Gaal defends Woodward on Pedro saga"
canonical: "https://readmanutd.com/2015/08/21/van-gaal-defends-woodward-pedro-saga/"
type: "post"
language: "en-GB"
section: "Man Utd Transfer News"
published: "2015-08-21T11:15:15Z"
modified: "2015-08-21T11:15:15Z"
---

# van Gaal defends Woodward on Pedro saga

Louis van Gaal says that chief executive Ed Woodward is not to blame for Manchester United missing out on the signature of Pedro to Chelsea.

The 28-year old Spanish international had been linked with a move to Manchester for weeks, with Woodward even flying out to Barcelona on Monday to apparently conclude a move for the winger, but yesterday it was confirmed that he had completed a £21 million move to Stamford Bridge.

In the pre-match press conference ahead of United’s match against Newcastle on Saturday, van Gaal defended Woodward, who has come under heavy criticism from United fans for not concluding the deal, saying that there was no tension between them.

“I have the idea that you \[the press\] want to separate Ed Woodward with me. No, never. Every day I am updated by him and I trust him,” van Gaal said.

“I don’t think they \[the fans\] have to doubt Ed Woodward because he has proven already for many years he is the right person on the right spot.

“I cannot answer that question \[on transfers\] because then I interfere and I don’t want to interfere. Ed Woodward is doing the things and he does it very well.”

Regarding Pedro, the Dutchman stated that he never said he wanted to sign him, but only that he fitted the profile of what he was looking for in the transfer market.

“I cannot answer these questions \[on Pedro\], you know that. I have said it before, that what we are doing is a process,” van Gaal said.

“In that process, we make decisions and I think when we wanted Pedro, it was not any problem. That is because there was a clause in his contract, so it was the easiest transfer.

“You can write what you want, but we cannot say what we want, that is the difference. I have the responsibility of protecting the interests of my club and my players.

“If you ask me if Pedro is fitting the profile \[of United\], I cannot lie, I say yes, but I didn’t say I am interested in the player. That is the difference.

“He is fast and he is creative. That is why I understand the question \[about whether he fits the profile\].”