Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal. “But that it is also dependable on whether or not we score goals, because we are always creating chances”.
Advertisement
When Paul Scholes described United as being “boring” under Van Gaal earlier this season, it was bad enough for the club to have one of its most illustrious former players sticking the boot into the Dutchman’s so-called “philosophy”.
Winners of the Champions League in 2008 and 1999 and its predecessor the European Cup in 1968, United invested heavily in the last close season bringing Anthony Martial, Memphis Depay and Bastian Schweinsteiger into their squad.
But much is likely to change over the duration of their contract and, having been given the backing of United’s board over a tricky Christmas period, Van Gaal has started to change United’s style. It’s another when Van Gaal tries it after 50, 60 and 70 matches in which his team have been so unconvincing.
Worth £75m a year, Manchester United’s deal with Adidas is the most lucrative in football history. “What a record”, United midfielder Bastian Schweinsteiger said on Twitter.
The comments of Hainer, whose company replaced Nike as United’s shirt sponsor a year ago, may well have been noted amongst the Old Trafford marketing men. Now, they’ve been overtaken by Arsenal.
United fans have regularly chanted “attack, attack, attack” at the team while they slowly build from the back.
According to a report in The Sun, Preston North End are leading a six-club chase for Manchester United’s out of favour attacking player Nick Powell.
“I am very happy for the players because they had to play under big pressure and now we have won”, he told reporters. The forward capped a breathtaking counter-attack at the Emirates Stadium as he collected a return pass from Nani and finished with aplomb. “That’s not what you expect from one of the greatest clubs in the world”.
United’s under-fire manager Van Gaal, however, was more focussed on the importance of a result that lifted United to fifth in the table after a dismal run in December.
Advertisement
Now Van Gaal hopes his squad will be able to play with more freedom after ending their rotten run. Firstly, it’s getting this season finished, whether it be with a new manger or not United fans will not want another season outside the top four.
