Juan Mata’s superbly-executed 83rd minute free kick secured a 1-0 win against Watford and saw Louis van Gaal’s side move level on points with fourth-placed Manchester City.
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“I gave compliments to my players because it is not so easy to win these games because Watford pressed us very high and we gave the ball away”.
After a hard last few months, Van Gaal’s men have picked up form over the course of the last few weeks and have fought their way back into the top four race, which looked distant even a month ago.
“I think Martial can play, Darmian can play and maybe Smalling – we’ll wait and see for tomorrow”.
Manchester United’s Marcus Rashford (L) challenged by Watford’s Miguel Britos during the English Premier League soccer match between Manchester United and Watford at the Old Trafford Stadium, Manchester, Britain, 02 March 2016.
Lingard do the running again because I had changed the shape, and put (Anthony) Martial in the striker’s position and at that time we were in a better shape.
United, which is now knocking on the door of the Champions League places, has won its last four games in all competitions.
“I am talking about to my players that you first have to believe in it. I believe in it, but the most important thing is that the players have to believe that”.
“We have to win also against West Brom, because we have to continue this, and then you’re close again [to the contenders]”.
“And it’s fantastic and that is also what I have experienced at my other teams, so I think it’s always good to have youngsters in your selection”. “Then you can see how hard it was and we are still in the possibility of being in the first four of the league”.
The fact that the scoreline remained goalless at the break owed much to the stubbornness of United goalkeeper David de Gea, who was called into action on many occasions to keep Odion Ighalo in particular at bay.
And Van Gaal was full of praise for his team, who’s average age was only 23 for the win against the Hornets. “That was my luck because Mata scored”.
“We had a bad result but we have a very good feeling”.
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“Manchester United have had a lot of injuries, a very hard period for them, and this is the moment when the younger players use the opportunity to establish themselves in the team”.
