Van Gaal has faced a trying week following the home defeat by Southampton which saw the Old Trafford crowd turn on the veteran Dutch manager.
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Van Gaal feels he has the support of executive vice-chairman Ed Woodward and the board, and is pleased about that, but claims that places even greater expectation on him to deliver. “At that time I could not predict we would have eight injuries”.
Juan Mata and Daley Blind have recounted how their exploits earned Manchester United victory over Derby County in Friday’s Emirates FA Cup fourth-round cracker.
“I hope that we can give the same level of performance as today (Friday), but we have to play Stoke City”.
“Why this question? It is more easy at home because we have won more matches at home than away, I’m sorry”, the Dutchman said.
“But it’s not so important that they yell at me”.
“When I can prevent that then OK, maybe I am guilty, and then I have to step down”. They have to give a result at that hour with that resistance (of Stoke).
“I have heard more the fans of Manchester United than Derby County and we are the away team, so I think it is fantastic that there is such a big part who is coming to (watch) that “boring” Manchester United, in spite of that”.
Van Gaal has faced severe criticism as Manchester United has struggled to capture their best form this season. He played on the left in pre-season and sees himself as a No.10, so a role ahead of Schneiderlin is a good fit for the Brazilian. We had some good passing spells and our goal was an excellent goal, a good finish from our holding midfielder – although I don’t know what he was doing up there! “In the second half, we controlled the game, they didn’t create nearly any chances and we scored two more goals”.
Van Gaal said at a press conference: “I think that I don’t have mentioned it ever”.
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“These are the type of games we want to be playing in, the kind of teams we want to be facing, week in, week out and now we have a big, big game on Tuesday against Preston”.
