Louis van Gaal warned that Manchester United must brace themselves for a 60-game season after insisting they remain alive in three competitions following a narrow 1-0 victory against Watford.
Advertisement
United were second best for much of the game in atrocious weather at Old Trafford on Wednesday, but still secured a fourth successive victory thanks to Juan Mata’s 83rd-minute free-kick. In the fight, we can play fantastic matches against Arsenal, and I believe against Midtjylland we also played very well.
“We are on a good run while our rivals are having problems”. To help their answers already.
Ahead of the trip to West Brom on Sunday, he said: “Of course, when you see that we have closed the gap a little bit then your belief shall rise”.
Manchester United have scored six of their 18 goals at home in the Premier League this season in their last two home games.
I think we played with high personality, with confidence, we created chances, we matched them.
“I think the youngsters give us a lot of spirit”, said Van Gaal.
Van Gaal is understandably urging caution, even if leaving Rashford out against Watford may well prove impossible.
“When you are in front of his house and that kind of stuff, I don’t think that is beneficial for a boy of 18 years old”.
“It is always the agent that is doing that because it is interesting Man United is inquiring, but we said, “Okay, maybe Borthwick-Jackson and Varela can do the job”. But we have still a full programme. “A lot of players receive kicks and they can play the next match”.
Van Gaal has revealed it is set to slightly ease when Watford visit tonight in the Premier League, with Chris Smalling, Matteo Darmian and Anthony Martial possibly returning. The weather made it hard to play good football and it became a very physical game. “You see the joy, all the players are laughing and it’s attractive to see”.
“I am talking to my players about first believing in it”.
Advertisement
Watford’s Nigerian striker Odion Ighalo missed three gilt-edged chances in the first half and Austrian defender Sebastian Proedl had a header cleared off the line by Rashford before United sprung to life.
