United scored five at Old Trafford for the first time since December 2011 to restore the feel-good factor among disillusioned supporters.
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Nikolay Bodurov, on loan from Fulham, turned a Memphis Depay cross into his own goal shortly afterwards, but nerves grew as Morgan Schneiderlin hit the woodwork and then Juan Mata saw a penalty saved.
The 18-year old’s performance will give under pressure van Gaal some respite from the fans who have been calling for his sack.
When asked if United would need match the desire they had shown in their 3-0 FA Cup triumph over Shrewsbury Town, the beleaguered manager replied, “You are right, your word is fantastic: Desire”.
Van Gaal said: “It is unbelievable. So they put a second team out, but what am I doing now?
I think what is happening is an absolute scandal! I said, stay within the width of the goal and you will score and he did.
“I think most the players shall be excited and for them it is the match of their lives, especially at Old Trafford and not at home”.
United are fifth in the Premier League, six points adrift of the top four spots and a Champions League qualifying place, but since last season the Europa League winners have been granted a spot in the continent’s elite club competition. “We have to play Arsenal within two days which is, more or less, not easy to do as your players have to recover”.
“It was advantageous for us to push him towards United so he went there and the rest is history”.
“It is ridiculous to lose two players in the warm-up against the same opposition, but we had to keep going and we did”. He stepped down himself and that I like very much”, United’s official website quoted Van Gaal as saying.
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In addition to Martial, Manchester United were without Ashley Young, Antonio Valencia, Wayne Rooney, Marouane Fellaini, Bastian Schweinsteiger, Luke Shaw, Matteo Darmian, Phil Jones, Chris Smalling, Will Keane, Cameron Borthwick-Jackson and David De Gea last night.
