“I want that also”, van Gaal said.
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Addressing the mass exodus after the match, Van Gaal asserted that many fans may have abandoned their seats “because of the traffic”. When I was looking at matches to analyse our opponents, then I would leave the stadium five minutes before.
‘There are matches that I have enjoyed, ‘ the former Bayern Munich said.
“You never know the reason”.
Van Gaal has however finally admitted that just like the fans, he himself has felt the performances of his team to be monotonous but the Dutchman has not failed to defend his team from the media whom he addressed as “very negative”. “But we are in the next round”.
Following on from United’s 1-0 win over Sheffield United in the FA Cup at the weekend, a game in which a late Wayne Rooney penalty secured their place in the fourth round, the critics have been out in force again.
Former United midfielder Paul Scholes said the players look bored while many fans showed their frustration at the performance. Sheffield United are ninth in League One. “Nobody is talking about that, everybody is talking about the fantastic defence of Sheffield United – I don’t think you can do any differently as a player of the League One level”.
“I see square pegs in round holes with players in the team”. I do think I’m more thinking how we have to attack, how we have to improve.
But, seemingly oblivious to the mounting anger at the way his side is playing, van Gaal suggested there might have been other explanations for the mass early exit.
Manchester United won a penalty in injury time, when Memphis Depay was brought down inside the box by Dean Hammond.
“The fans are frustrated but so are the players”. But that is also why the fans are coming.
“I see their game against Arsenal [a 1-0 loss] and they played very well, but they didn’t win and that’s the most important thing in football”.
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Van Gaal has been at odds with Scholes for much of his 18-month spell at the club, but the 64 year old conceded some of the football on display at Old Trafford this season has been rather tiresome.
