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Louis van Gaal has revealed he planned to rest Angel di Maria after he and his family suffered an attempted break-in on Saturday night but the Manchester United midfielder "wanted to play".

Di Maria was home last Saturday night after the Leicester match when thugs tried to break into his Alderley Edge mansion while he was inside eating with his wife and child.

Darren Fletcher started a Champions League tie for United at Internazionale in 2009, despite robbers holding a knife to his fiancee and mother-in-law's necks during a raid the previous evening.

And Van Gaal believes the frightening experience suffered by £59.7m club and British record buy Di Maria after will not unsettle the Argentine’s Old Trafford career.

“He has since been assigned bodyguards by the club to protect him and his family.

“I believe in the total human being principle. So his environment is also important. But nevertheless, he was worried about his wife and child,” said Louis

“I have spoken with him, and he wanted to play against Cambridge United and I played him.

“I have decided in the past that I will never play a player in those circumstances, because of the total human being principle. But with him, I had the feeling that I had to give him a chance to play and I was happy that I let him play.

“He played very well. And of course, I have to decide again against West Ham, but when you have seen his performance against Cambridge, I don’t think I have any doubt.”

Click below for a gallery of Di Maria accompanied by bodyguards: