---
title: "Parker: “Players aren’t enjoying themselves”"
canonical: "https://readmanutd.com/2015/12/01/parker-players-arent-enjoying/"
type: "post"
language: "en-GB"
section: "Man Utd News"
published: "2015-12-01T16:29:18Z"
modified: "2015-12-01T16:29:18Z"
---

# Parker: “Players aren’t enjoying themselves”

Former Manchester United defender Paul Parker believes that Louis van Gaal needs to allow his players more freedom in order to get the best out of them.

van Gaal’s tactics and style of football have come under fire recently from pundits and fans alike, with many feeling that the Dutchman needs to loosen the shackles and allow United to play attractive football.

In his latest column for [Eurosport](https://www.eurosport.co.uk/football/premier-league/2014-2015/paul-parker-fear-of-god-from-louis-van-gaal-inhibiting-manchester-united-stars_sto5010900/story.shtml), Parker writes:

> *When Louis van Gaal arrived at United, I thought he too would be flexible. But we now have a situation where there are a lot of discontented players and we have to question why they are playing badly.*

![Laurence Griffiths/Getty Images Sport](https://media.readmanutd.com/readmanutd/2015/12/499067790.jpg)

> *I look at Anthony Martial and worry for him. He looks like a boy who doesn’t smile anymore. He doesn’t look like he’s enjoying himself. The form Memphis Depay is showing hasn’t just happened because he’s playing in the Premier League. That boy probably feels like a scapegoat. He’s in a country relatively close to where he’s from, but feeling a million miles away.*
>
> *Ander Herrera is hugely popular with the fans because he makes things happen. Everyone loves to see players like that, but he’s barely playing and is probably unsettled. These players need freedom; they need to enjoy themselves.*

Parker believes that van Gaal’s man management has been poor and in order to get the best out of United, he needs to be flexible with his philosophy:

> *van Gaal puts the fear of God into players. It has to be his way. He selfishly manages the team. And no one enjoys it.*
>
> *He may be a successful manager, but he must learn – even at his age – to become a good man manager. At the moment we have to say he’s not man managing that team. All those players he’s got are not bad players, and they’ve not played negative football all their lives.*

![Alex Livesey/Getty Images Sport](https://media.readmanutd.com/readmanutd/2015/12/495339904.jpg)

> *van Gaal has to be flexible with his philosophy. It can’t be his way or no way. He’s asking players to change their methods to suit him, so why can’t he change too? I’m not demanding United play this way or that, I’m just asking for the players to have a little bit of freedom.*
>
> *You only get the best out of people if they’re willing to give you 100 per cent. When you see people smiling, it’s amazing how much more they will do. There’s not enough players smiling in that Manchester United team – and there’s a little bit of a fear factor attached to mistakes now.*