“They played very good in the first half and we could not cope with their pressure”, Van Gaal told BT Sport.
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The ex-England global, who now works as a TV pundit, lashed out at manager Louis van Gaal, the club’s board and its current crop of players. “They had difficulties, but we did not create too many chances”.
Winning the Europa League was seen as United’s best chance to qualify for next season’s Champions League, having slumped to sixth place in the Premier League, but even the quarterfinals may be out of reach following another sobering loss for its manager Louis van Gaal.
There will be no time for the Red Devils to dwell on this defeat with a home game against high-flying West Ham on Sunday, before attempting to overturn the deficit when Liverpool come to Old Trafford next Thursday. In the opening exchanges there were plenty of challenges and the speed the game was played at obviously helped Liverpool to exert their supremacy. They were able to swarm Palace and overturn a one-goal and one-man disadvantage in the second half by playing at such a high tempo.
“But (because) we’ve done it (in the first leg) it doesn’t mean we’ll go through to the next round. I give my opinion now, you have already used another person’s.” .
“Tonight the referee did not decide the game, so I do not need to say anything, but those bookings could still be a problem in later rounds”, he said.
In an all-Spanish tie, Athletic Bilbao edged Gary Neville’s Valencia 1-0 on a sodden San Mames pitch with Raul Garcia scoring the only goal of the game.
“You don’t give your opinion and then you give Rio Ferdinand’s opinion – that is very strong of you”. Go on. You know you want to.
“Of course Liverpool were the better team in the first half but in second half we did a better match than before that”. Shakhtar Donetsk will also take a good lead into the second leg with Anderlecht after a 3-1 home victory, as will Villarreal who beat Bayer Leverkusen 2-0 thanks to a double strike from Cedric Bakambu.
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The two clubs would have definitely hoped that the competition they were engaging in would be the illustrious Champions League but Anfield rose to glory and ensured the Europa League tie also looks as grand considering the teams involved. “[But] I have to say that Liverpool created an atmosphere that was fantastic”, he said.
