United used to qualify for the knockout stage habitually and Van Gaal has suggested in the past that he expects to restore the club to the summit of European football before he is due to retire in June 2017. “But you can not expect of a 20-year-old player coming to the Premier League that he scores every week”. However, Manchester United will be relying on results to go their way, unless they manage to win in Germany.
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The draw with PSV at Old Trafford in the last round of Champions League fixtures typified the numerous frustrations that United are experiencing in the final third this season, as they got off to a reasonably purposeful start before losing their way and eventually finding themselves holding on to a goalless draw.
“In the Champions League there is no easy team”, he said on Atletico’s official website.
The three tie Champions League winning manager boasts an impressive record, and has what it takes to succeed in England, having guided Chelsea to Premier League and FA Cup titles in 2009-2010.
Andre Schurrle has warned Manchester United they will be hunted down by a pack of aggressive Wolves on Tuesday. United drew 0-0 at home against PSV last time out in Europe and seem entirely unable to break down well-organized defences under van Gaal’s tactical setup.
United had already qualified for the knockout stages by the time they arrived at Wolfsburg in 2009, but despite fielding an under-strength side that included Darron Gibson and Tomasz Kuszczak, they came away with a comfortable win thanks to Michael Owen’s hat-trick. “I think he is very talented but we have to say he is 20-years-old”, he said.
A quick look at the Bayern team that day shows just how big of an achievement that was. “I know that and I have to explain it to everybody because he doesn’t need that pressure to score every match”.
“But I am convinced he shall continue with his performances and also that he will score at the right moments again”.
Van Gaal offered these words of encouragement to Man Utd fans after Saturday’s 0-0 draw against West Ham.
United will be without Wayne Rooney, Marcos Rojo, Luke Shaw, Antonio Valencia, Ander Herrera, Phil Jones and Morgan Schneiderlin for Tuesday’s game.
Nick Powell is back in the provisional first-team squad for the first time this season while youngsters Sean Goss, Andreas Pereira, Guillermo Varela and Cameron Borthwick-Jackson are also included. It is a matter of time and I hope we can prove it here.
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Victory would see them leapfrog the Bundesliga team at the top of Group B and send them into the last 16 as section winners.
