In fairness, however, United’s preparations were thrown into disarray when Chris Smalling withdrew on Thursday with a shoulder problem, and Anthony Martial then injured a hamstring in the warm-up.
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Marcus Rashford and Memphis may have grabbed the headlines in Manchester United’s emphatic Europa League victory over Midtjylland but it was a strong all-round team performance, according to stand-in captain Michael Carrick.
The United boss, who fought off the threat of the sack with successive wins last week against Shrewsbury and Midtjylland, said: “The first time I saw him was in the first year for me as national coach in Holland”.
“I didn’t have another option, so it was easy. He was there on the bench because he was the natural substitute for Martial”. “No because I have always defended him”. However, he likely prevented a more serious injury by removing himself from the match, showing the impressive maturity he has despite his young age. Managers who have a history of winning trophies – which Van Gaal has – often find a way of adding another before they leave.
With an important league game against Arsenal looming, the Frenchman has a chance of being fit for that clash.
“I think he ran too much in the first half, across the whole pitch, and I think a striker has to play more in the width of the goal”.
Yet the 64-year-old is not looking for Mourinho or United to calm the chatter. “I think he is smart and wise to step out, because it was not a rupture, it was a tight hamstring”. It is hard to change or rotate when you don t have any other players.
A shock for the ages was on the cards as Pione Sisto gave the visitors a 3-1 aggregate lead, but United fought back strongly and levelled on the night courtesy of a Nikolay Bodurov own goal before Juan Mata missed a penalty.
FC Midtjylland full-back Andre Romer admits last night was one of the worst nights of his football career after Manchester United winger Memphis Depay tormented him at Old Trafford.
With an injury crisis coursing through Van Gaal’s squad, Rashford is likely to be starting up front against Arsenal in a globally anticipated English Premier League game in front of almost 80,000 spectators on Sunday.
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“I am very happy with (Marcos) Rojo, that he played 10 or 15 minutes, and how he showed already his form and shape”.
