Louis van Gaal backs his Manchester United players affected by Paris attacks

Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal has revealed that he has spoken to a handful of his players to discover their mindset following last Friday's terrorist attacks in Paris.

Anthony Martial, Morgan Schneiderlin and Bastian Schweinsteiger were in the Stade de France for a friendly between France and Germany when three suicide bombers blew themselves up outside the ground.

In total, 129 people were killed in six attacks across the French capital, and as a mark of respect, the country's national anthem 'La Marseillaise' will be played before kickoff at every Premier League game this weekend.

"What they told me is private but we have communicated, of course," Van Gaal told reporters. "I think, for every human being in this world, it is a big blow. I don't think I have to mention what our discussions were.

"Martial cannot play because he is injured, but Schweinsteiger and Schneiderlin can play if we don't take into account this event and what has happened.

"As a member of the sport of football, we cannot do much [to remember the victims], but we can support it symbolically and I think [playing the anthem is] a nice thing for the French people, for the victims and for their relatives. I think it can give them force and strength to survive."

Meanwhile, five of United's first team have been ruled out of Saturday's match against Watford at Vicarage Road.