Manchester United defender Marcos Rojo has described his relationship with boss Louis van Gaal as “normal”.

Relations between the pair appeared strained not long ago, with Van Gaal reportedly angry at Rojo over the summer that passport issues had prevented him from joining up with the United’s pre-season tour.

It had looked as if the Argentina international might leave the club only a year after his arrival from Sporting Lisbon and, after a move did not materialise, there were then further problems for Rojo when Van Gaal in September claimed he had failed to tell him about a hamstring injury he suffered.

The 25-year-old did not play in any of United’s first seven games this term and only two of the opening 13. But he has started all six since then, earning praise or his efforts at left-back.

And asked if he had a good relationship with Van Gaal, Rojo said: “It is normal. I don’t ask him why he includes me in a game when I play, so I don’t have any right in asking him why I don’t play when he decides that I don’t have to do it. It’s as simple as that.

“Van Gaal does the same as any coach in the world. He decides who plays according to what he sees during the week, he chooses the players that he sees in the best condition and we have to accept all the decisions that the coach takes.”

Rojo added of Dutchman Van Gaal, who has a reputation for an uncompromising style of management: “He is a very professional coach, he wants to get out the very best from each one.

“He wants his work to have success and we have to understand what he expects from each one of us.”