Manchester United boss Louis van Gaal says having Radamel Falcao play in what is effectively their reserves is not an attempt to humiliate him.

Falcao is on loan from Monaco, and has not turned too many heads while at Old Trafford, scoring just four Premier League goals this season.

The Colombian hardly impressed before being substituted in a game against Tottenham's U21s this week.

"I've read in a lot of papers that it is a humiliation. I don't think so. We pay a lot for the players. It's normal that they play football also for us, and that can also be in the second team," said Van Gaal.