Manchester United boss Louis van Gaal is adamant that all of the players in his squad are playing for their futures at the club.

The Dutchman has allowed several long-standing members of the Red Devils to leave over the past seven months, including Danny Welbeck and Darren Fletcher.

Van Gaal has conceded that the decisions to allow veteran players to depart were not easy for him, but feels that he had to make them to improve the quality of his team.

He told reporters: "I think all of them are playing for their future and all of them are aware of that. They know they have to perform. Not just in the matches, but also on the training pitch.

"It always has to be 100%. Maybe a lot of players were not aware of that - but now they know.

"It is not easy for me [to make tough decisions] because I know that most of my players are trying to do their utmost best. When you see that as a manager, then it is very hard to say to someone 'you have to go'."

United face West Ham United in a Premier League clash at Upton Park later today.