Guus Hiddink believes Memphis Depay's form is suffering because he is having to overcome the pressure of being one of the Netherlands' brightest prospects while adjusting to the demands of the Premier League.
Manchester United spent £31 million (Dh170m) to recruit the talented forward from PSV Eindhoven in the summer when he was already a member of Hiddink's Netherlands national team – but like so many in a United shirt this season he has struggled to make an impression under manager Louis van Gaal.
Hiddink, who has since begun his second reign as Chelsea's interim manager, may not even see Depay play on Monday when Chelsea visit Old Trafford.
Depay was substituted at half-time in United’s 2-0 defeat at Stoke City – but Hiddink has defended the forward’s “talent”, and says the solution to improving his form comes in patience and with the assistance of United’s more senior players.
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“He’s a very young guy,” said Hiddink, who oversaw a 2-2 draw with Watford in his first game back at Stamford Bridge. “When he was in Holland he was one of the star players, at a very young age.
“There is a lack of star players in Holland who are playing already many years in their league so at a young age he was bombarded as one of the big talents.
“He has this talent but he’s also now having a confrontation with the demands of the Premier League, which are much higher in intensity of the game during 90 minutes.
“That’s a period all players, not just him, have to overcome, and I think they need time for that.
“He has this talent, but he’s also giving interviews saying ‘hey, I have to get used to another way of playing, the intensity of the games every three days, plus the intensity of the game’. Those guys, they need a bit the cover of experienced players.”
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