Today (Wednesday) we could have scored at least three goals.
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United boss Louis van Gaal acknowledged his team did not play to their potential but reiterated they are still in the competition but need to effectively win in Wolfsburg to continue their interest in this season’s Champions League. “We have to start turning these games into wins”.
A win in Germany will send the Red Devils through, however if they fail to beat the Bundesliga side, and PSV win at home to rock-bottom CSKA Moscow, then they’re out.
Phillip Cocu’s PSV have now taken four points from United, having beaten them 2-1 in September, and will approach their final assignment at home to CSKA two points behind group leaders Wolfsburg and one below United in third place.
Van Gaal claimed United, who require a win in Wolfsburg to qualify for the last 16, were “afraid” to attack in the second-half of their goalless draw with PSV. Chris Smalling has been also been excellent at the heart of a strong structure put together by Louis van Gaal.
“I think Luke is recovering very well but you never know with an injury like that”, Van Gaal said. “To the end we’re not so good any more, we were afraid to play the ball but nevertheless do not give too much chances away”.
“The next game you can score out of nothing”, the United manager consoled himself.
“The result is disappointing because I feel we could have finished this game several times”, Van Gaal said.
Axel Tuanzebe, Paddy McNair, Cameron Borthwick-Jackson, Sean Goss, Andreas Pereira, Jesse Lingard and Marcus Rashford have all been involved in matchday squads over the past three league games with van Gaal willing to hand his Academy products an opportunity on the big stage.
“No, we’re not”, the United captain said when asked if his team were ruthless enough.
“In the first half it was average and in the second half in spite of my changes it did not improve”.
Shaw, 20, suffered a double leg break following a sliding challenge by PSV’s Hector Moreno in the reverse fixture in Eindhoven on September 15, potentially ending the England international’s season.
Cocu does not want that to be the case, however.
“What is important for the youngsters is they have to know that they have long way to go”.
“They couldn’t find a solution of beating our defence”.
It came after a magnificent start to the season for the young defender who finally looked to be growing into his role at Old Trafford.
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“Maybe (in terms of) the confidence, they didn’t believe any more in the last part of the game that they could win it”.
