Louis van Gaal's decision to drop David De Gea risks backlash for Manchester United

David de Gea wants to leave United. That has been true ever since he found out that Madrid were interested in him at the start of 2015, but it didn't affect his performances. He said nothing publicly, but hoped that the deal to the Bernabeu could be done this summer.

That has yet to happen and Van Gaal became concerned with the goalkeeper’s focus while on the pre-season tour of the United States where the former Atletico keeper played just 106 minutes over four games. Sam Johnstone, the third- or fourth-choice keeper, played 206 minutes and did well. The Preston lad, who spent the second half of last season on loan at Deepdale as Preston North End won promotion back to the Championship, is determined and down to earth. I spoke to him after United had beaten Barcelona in Santa Clara and he was buzzing after playing against Barca’s world-class stars.

“I’m almost speechless,” he said after the game in front of 68,416. “You find out that you’re going to come on, then you start warming up and running past some of the Barca players who you obviously recognise. It can be difficult coming on mid-game, but I thought the lads did well and I was happy with how I played. I was just a little bit gutted that I conceded a goal.”

[FULL STORY: United drop De Gea for Tottenham opener]

De Gea won't start against Spurs on Saturday. That decision was made over a week ago and United have been training accordingly all week. The initial idea was to play Sergio Romero, who signed only two weeks ago, but he’s still adjusting to life at his new club. He may start, or Johnstone may play again.

United’s goalkeeping situation is odd. With the arrival of the Argentine Romero, United currently have five goalkeepers. Of the Spaniards, Victor Valdes is allowed to leave and De Gea wants to go too. Valdes and Van Gaal frequently fell out when they worked together at Barcelona so it’s no surprise that the same thing happened in Manchester. The only surprise is that it took so long, for Valdes really impressed team-mates in training last season, both with his attitude and performances.

The Dane Anders Lindegaard, contracted for another year, hasn’t started a game under Van Gaal and had fallen behind Ben Amos, now at Bolton, in the rankings. Which leaves Johnstone and Romero in contention to play Spurs. If either play well then the decision will be vindicated. If United lose on the opening day as they did against Swansea last season then expect a backlash.

Thousands of Manchester United fans haunted the internet on Friday morning. “Please not Moscow,” they said to themselves. “Anywhere but Moscow.” To the match-going fans who’ve spent a quarter of a century going to European away games since English clubs were allowed back into Europe in 1990, they couldn’t wait to see their team back on the continent after being starved of European football last year.

United’s fourth-place finish was enough for a Champions League play-off spot and the potential opponents were narrowed down to five: Lazio, Monaco, CSKA Moscow, Club Bruges and Rapid Vienna.

[FULL STORY: Manchester United draw Club Brugge in Champions League play-off]

Bruges would have been the favourite for most United fans. It’s by far the easiest place to get to, just a hop away from the Channel ports. There are flights to Brussels, Antwerp, Amsterdam, Rotterdam, Eindhoven and Charleroi. There are also direct trains to Belgium and it’s only a 10-hour drive from Manchester.

Ease of access can be a blessing and a curse – if games are too easy to reach then mates bring mates and they bring mates. When United played in Lens, northern France, in 2002 the behaviour of some of their fans who acted like they’d never been abroad before was atrocious.

So Bruges it is. It’s a fine looking city in Belgium, where they brew decent beer. It’s in August, when even the nearby beaches are full. Partners can be placated by a gift of Belgian chocolate and there’s the added appeal that United haven’t played there before. Bruges’ Jan Breydal ground holds 29,049 after it was expanded ahead of Euro 2000. Birmingham City took 5,600 fans to Bruges in 2011, but Newcastle United, the last English team to play there in 2012, received only 1,470 tickets.

Michel Preud’homme’s team fell short in their domestic championship play-offs last season after competing for three trophies and United will be favourites. If Louis van Gaal’s team can't overcome the Belgians then they don’t deserve to be in the Champions League group stages.

United have had a positive pre-season, but there are some pressing issues which Van Gaal wants resolved. United want Barcelona forward Pedro and the Canarian wants to move to Old Trafford. Luis Enrique wants to keep him for the Catalans’ forthcoming Super Cup games and that has been the club’s stance for two weeks, but if United meet his €30 million buy-out fee then the hugely experienced Spain international will move to Manchester.

Let’s hope he has more success than the man he’ll effectively replace, Angel Di Maria. He put his name to a letter to United fans on Thursday night which came across either as insincere, or like it had been written by a nine-year-old.

It’s a shame it didn’t work out for the Argentinian in Manchester because he’s a hugely gifted footballer, but impulsive talents and Van Gaal don't always mix well. If Di Maria and another departed player, Radamel Falcao, shine this season then it won't reflect well on their ex-manager, though the Colombian has done little since leaving to United to show that he’s anywhere near the player he was before he ruptured his cruciate ligament in 2013.