Although United is three points from first place and Bournemouth is barely out of the relegation zone on goal difference, the south-coast club has been buoyed by the greatest result in its history: Winning at Premier League champion Chelsea last weekend.
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United are without a win in their last four matches in all competitions and reports claim van Gaal has lost the support of sections of his squad, with some players said to have been amazed by his decision to replace Juan Mata with the inexperienced Nick Powell against Wolfsburg.
United dropped into the Europa League after a 3-2 loss to Wolfsburg on Tuesday meant they finished third in Group B behind the Bundesliga club and PSV Eindhoven.
Van Gaal, whose side travel to Bournemouth today without nine first team regulars, added: “You can lose and you can win in sport, and you have to accept that as a player and as a manager”. We will do everything we can.
The team’s early exit from the Champions League cost Manchester United a reported €38.5 million in potential prize money, which doesn’t rest well with the club’s owners who have invested well over £200 million in transfer fees on new players, requested by the manager himself.
“It’s also a little bit odd again afterwards”, he told the press conference.
Frustrated Fans and pundits have queued up to point the finger of blame at United’s Dutch coach, questioning his recent signings and his side’s perceived negative style of play. My board, I think, also do everything. Please note that comments are automatically checked for inappropriate language and will be removed accordingly. “They played very well with good concentration”.
“We have a lot of injuries, ” United midfielder Marouane Fellaini said. The bottom clubs can beat the top.
Louis van Gaal has come under fire and blamed for his failure to inspire the players to put in a solid performance on the night.
Sometimes it feels like Van Gaal wants to show everyone how clever he is but football isn’t about that. I still have a lot more to learn and a lot of improving to do and I look forward to doing that.
“He knows what he’s done – he’s elbowed me in the face”, Reid said after the game.
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Saturday’s opponents Bournemouth defeated Chelsea at Stamford Bridge last week but manager Eddie Howe is under no illusions about the size of the next task facing the Cherries.
