'I'm on Falcao's side': Colombia coach backs Radamel Falcao amid Manchester United woes

Jose Pekerman admits current troubles for the 29-year-old are a 'huge problem'

Radamel Falcao with Louis van Gaal (GETTY IMAGES)

Colombia coach Jose Pekerman has backed Radamel Falcao amid the striker's troubles at Manchester United, telling reporters he's on the player's side.

Falcao is enduring a terrible season at Old Trafford where he has scored just four goals since arriving at the club on loan from Monaco.

His difficulties have seen him struggle for game time in recent weeks, with the former Atletico Madrid striker finding himself competing alongside the club's Under-21s earlier this month in order to keep his fitness levels up.

Falcao has met up with the Colombia squad for games against Bahrain and Kuwait, during which time Pekerman hopes to go some way to restoring the confidence of a striker who according to his former agent has been reduced to tears by his current problems.

"It's a huge problem that we need to resolve; this problem is as large as the sadness that Falcao is going through right now," said Pekerman.

"I feel I need to support him because I understand how hard it is for him and the difficult moment he is experiencing. I want to work with him again and help him restore his confidence."

With Manchester United understood to be unlikely to make his transfer a permanent one, Falcao has found himself linked with a host of clubs and according to Pekerman the man second on Colombia's all-time scorer list will get back to his best.

"I know Falcao's strengths, his mentality and his fighting spirit, and I've never doubted that he'll come out the other side," Pekerman said. "He's in a bad moment, but he's looking after himself and this week is going to be very important for him.

"Of course, on a human level I'm on Falcao's side because I know that he's suffering and he deserves the opportunity to work better and to have his chance to show that he's okay. But it's not my job to judge the decisions of another coach."