Zaha desperate to prove point to Van Gaal after ‘not getting chance’
WILFRIED ZAHA is determined to show Manchester United what they missed out on tomorrow when he faces his former club for the first time since leaving Old Trafford.
Zaha failed to make an impact during two nightmare years at United and the Crystal Palace winger wants to prove a point to United manager Louis van Gaal.
“I did not really get a chance to prove myself and I have got to show what I could have done,” he said ahead of the Selhurst Park clash.
“There is no point thinking about the past because there is nothing that really happened there. There is nothing to look back on because I never really played.
“I was just there — not playing and not doing anything. It would be nice to get a result.”
Zaha was signed by Sir Alex Ferguson for an initial £10million in January 2013 but remained at Palace on loan and helped them to promotion. He made only four appearances under David Moyes last season and did not start a Premier League match before being loaned to Cardiff for the second half of the campaign.
The 22-year-old was overlooked by Van Gaal when the Dutchman took over and he rejoined Palace on loan last summer before making the deal permanent in January.
Zaha has admitted feeling “worthless” at United and has opened up about his relationship with Van Gaal.
“He spoke to me now and then,” he said. “The only thing I was happy about was that he let me go out on loan. He did not muck me around. So I have to thank him for that. A manager has got to do what a manager has got to do.”
Zaha believes it could be a good time to play United, who have lost three successive games as they chase Champions League qualification. “Their confidence is not the best right now and we have got nothing to lose,” he said.
“We just need to have belief and the confidence to get the ball down and play. We can definitely get a result.”
Zaha could represent England in the European Under-21 Championships in June. He won the last of his 10 Under-21 caps in November 2013 but Gareth Southgate has said he could still make his squad for the tournament in the Czech Republic.
“That would be great but for now I am focused on my club football,” said Zaha. “When it comes to that, I will see how it goes.”