United go into the match as the 47/20 underdogs, having scored just seven times in their last 10 matches, but manager Louis van Gaal is convinced they can discover their killer instinct in front of goal again.
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United’s England striker Wayne Rooney is out with an ankle injury, but United boss Van Gaal says it’s up to the players chosen to score the goals at Wolfsburg’s Volkswagen Arena to keep United in Europe.
“We have to fight also against Manchester City in the league, or against Liverpool and for the fans these are very important, but in this moment I believe this is the most important match, but that is this moment”, Van Gaal said.
“We have to be independent of the result of PSV Eindhoven so it’s important we win”, he said.
Goals have been hard to come by, and United’s often listless displays have frustrated fans, but van Gaal is counting on Schweinsteiger, pictured, to guide them through a tricky tie in Germany.
“When you are creating chances you shall finish those kind of chances”, said the 64-year-old Dutchman. Yes, you have to score from those chances and we didn’t do that. Schweinsteiger has until Thursday to appeal or he will miss games against Bournemouth, Norwich and Stoke.
“We’re looking forward to it and know it’s a big opportunity for us also to make history with Wolfsburg”.
The 20-times English champions have played five 0-0 draws in their last nine matches in all competitions and the Old Trafford faithful, who are not accustomed to such sluggish performances have shown their frustration on a number of times by jeering the team.
“As a manager you can not be pleased when it is like this”.
Martial, the most expensive teenager in world football when he moved to Manchester from Monaco for £36million in August, had a brilliant start to his United career but is struggling to cope now that he has lost the element of surprise. Because of that it’s an important game, that we score and come through in the Champions League.
Anthony Martial has taken a lot of criticism in recent weeks for the lack of goals he is scoring, but Van Gaal has called for less pressure to be put on the youngster, and just let him have time to settle in at his new club.
“You can not expect a 20-year-old player coming to the Premier League to score every week”.
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During his two-year reign as Bayern Munich coach, Van Gaal was unbeaten in four encounters with Wolfsburg, winning three of them.
